SOUTHEND & EMT’s slow start to the Premier Division season continued with a three wicket defeat to Ilford.

Southend scored 132 in their innings with Joe Robbins top scoring with 41 runs before Ilford reached the required total for the loss of seven wickets.

Southend’s Adam Rendall took four wickets for 31 runs with the ball while Mohammed Rizvi took 2-62.

But it was not enough to stop Southend skipper Tom Phillippe suffering another defeat.

“We thought we had again showed improvements,” said Phillippe.

“On a dodgy pitch we fell 20 short of a good score and the extra 20 runs proved vital after an excellent effort with the ball led by Adam Rendall who was superb.”

Southend - who were handed a 25 point deduction before the season got underway - sit bottom of the table, 40 points from safety and host second placed Wanstead & Snaresbrook this weekend.