COLCHESTER & East Essex Cricket Club chairman Andrew Kennedy has insisted the club can still pull away from relegation danger this season.

Colchester, who lie second from bottom in the Shepherd Neame Essex League premier division, host fellow strugglers Buckhurst Hill in a crucial basement battle at Castle Park on Saturday.

Colchester have not won since the opening day of the season and have lost their last eight games.

However, Buckhurst Hill have also only managed to chalk up a solitary win this season and prop up the premier division table.

A win is crucial for both clubs and Kennedy believes Colchester’s next group of games will go a long way to helping them to ensure their premier division status for another season.

Kennedy said: “We’re halfway through the season now.

“We’re around 30 points adrift of safety which sounds a lot but when you take into account that you can get 25 points with a win, it’s not a big gap to fill.

“The next four weeks will be against teams in and around us and I think what we do in those games will go a long way to defining what we do this season.”

Colchester will be looking for a similar performance to that they produced against Wanstead & Snaresbrook last weekend.

Joe Barnett’s side were unlucky to lose by nine runs, despite a seven-wicket haul from youngster Jake Foley.

Colchester will check on the fitness of skipper Barnett ahead of the home game against Buckhurst Hill.

Barnett suffered a serious burn after accidently pouring hot water over his arm in a freak accident last week.

Colchester’s second team are away to Hornchurch in the second XI premier division.

Colchester are third from bottom in the table, while Hornchurch are bottom and are still searching for their first win of the season.

In third XI division two, bottom side Colchester travel to play Loughton III.