SOUTHEND & EMT are out to secure the promotion they agonisingly missed out on in Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One last season.

Southend dropped out of the top two on the final day of the previous campaign despite winning their clash with champions Hornchurch.

And skipper Joe Robbins is keen to make amends this time around.

“I think the obvious disappointment of last season and being so close to promotion will drive us on to go one better this time around,” said Robbins, whose side missed out by just four points last term.

“Promotion is of course the aim, but then I’m sure it is for all 10 sides in this division.

“I’m under no illusions that it will be an extremely tight and strong league this season with the sides that have come up and down but we’ll be doing our best to go up.”

Southend start their Division One campaign at home to Harold Wood this weekend and could well include a couple of new signings in their side.

Ash McCafferty has signed as an overseas player this season and the 19-year-old, who plays first grade cricket for Carlton in Melbourne, will be keen to impress.

Alex Karkosi has also joined from Orsett as Southend look to win promotion into the Premier Division.

Billericay, who came up from Division Two last season, host Woodford Wells this weekend while Hadleigh & Thundersley are at home to Fives and Heronians.

And skipper Adam Soilleux is keen to build on the form his side have shown in the League Cup already this term.

“We've had a good start to the season winning both of our League Cup games, the first being a win over premier league side Chingford,” said Soilleux.

“Bar Hornchurch being runaway winners of division one last year the league was very tight, so much so that we had a chance of going down in the final game, but ended up finishing fifth.

“Had it not been for a few narrow losses we would have been pushing for a top two finish.

“The league looks like it will be just as competitive this season and we've got to believe that, especially given our good start, we can push for a top two spot.”

Hadleigh have added two quality spinners to their squad this season with Owen Lynch coming in from Queensland and Sam Handley from Hadleigh in Suffolk.

Handley currently plays for Cambridge MCCU and has taken seven wickets in his first two outings.

Elsewhere in division one, Orsett and Thurrock are also in action as they entertain Upminster