FRINTON Cricket Club’s Michael Comber is backing his team to dust themselves down and finish the campaign strongly after the heartache of a controversial defeat against Vauxhall Mallards.

The sides met in a dramatic Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League contest at Ashlyns Road on Saturday.

After losing the toss and being put into bat, Frinton were all out for just 137.

They then restricted their visitors to 137 for nine from 35 overs but after going off believing they had tied the match, they were dealt the bombshell that they had actually lost by a wicket.

“It was a day when the toss was absolutely massive,” said former Essex man Comber, who scored 30.

“It went down to the wire and we were unfortunate, because we thought we’d managed to pull a tie out of the bag – only to be told afterwards we’d lost.

“We’d done well to pull it back from the position we were in so to end up losing was absolutely gutting.

“It was tough to take because realistically, to stand any chance of being in the title race, we had to win on Saturday.

“It’s pretty much out of our hands now but never say never and if any of the sides above us slip up, we have to be ready to pounce.

“Hopefully we’ll finish the season strongly with five wins because we have to keep pressing.

“We have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and try and knock Swardeston over in our next game on Saturday.”

Frinton had a disappointing day with the bat, with only half their team registering double figures – Jaik Mickleburgh (35), Comber (30), Migs Machado (23), Pulina Tharanga (13) and Tom Sinclair (ten).

However, they gave themselves a fighting chance thanks largely to a brilliant bowling display from skipper Kyran Young.

The Australian took four wickets for just nine runs in his seven overs.

Next up Frinton make the trip to second-placed Swardeston and Comber says he and his team-mates will do everything in their power to pull off a victory against the Norfolk heavyweights.

“We’re going into the deep a bit but we can only do our best for the club and KY (Young),” he said.

“We’d love to win our last five games and finish in the top two or three, having been fifth last season.

“From the position we’re in, that would be a really big effort and something to be very proud of.

“We’re going to be up against it but you never know what’s going to happen in one-day cricket.

“It just takes one person to have an outstanding game and they can win it by themselves.”

Comber is highly unlikely to bowl again because of a hip flexor injury.

However, he hopes to make a big contribution with the bat.

“I’ve been playing nicely but I just can’t find a way to get from 50 to 100,” said the 28-year-old.

“I keep finding ways to get out but overall I’ve been happy with my batting.

“I just have to keep doing the right things and hopefully I’ll manage a big score before the end of the year.”

After Saturday, Frinton will have four games left – at home to Mildenhall on August 25, away to Cambridge Granta on September 1, at home to Norwich on September 8 and at home to Bury St Edmunds on September 15.