Skipper Tim Wade demands more to avoid relegation dogfight (From Echo)

Skipper Tim Wade demands more to avoid relegation dogfight

1:40pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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WESTCLIFF skipper Tim Wade is adamant that his side must start to show quick improvement if they are not to be dragged into a relegation dogfight.

The seasiders host Hutton, one of only two sides below them, at Chalkwell Park tomorrow and know that defeat could see them in potential danger.

With basement outfit Basildon well adrift and seemingly certs for the drop, Hutton are only six points behind Wade’s men.

Westcliff lost at south-east Essex’s most successful side, Orsett, last week and Wade admitted: “We did not bat anywhere near well enough. We got ourselves into a strong position to win the game and threw it away. “Once again we are playing good cricket for 60 per cent of the game, but the other 40 per cent is very poor.”

With four players unavailable tomorrow, Wade stresses there is a real chance for others to step in and claim a regular spot.

Orsett, lying fourth, are just 19 points away from top dogs Ilford as the second half of the season gets underway.

But tomorrow they’ll have to overcome a Wickford side they lost to at home on the opening day of the season.

The secret of Orsett’s success has been their strength in depth batting-wise, but the bowling achievements of Shahid Khan should not be overlooked.

He’s grabbed 30 wickets in the first half of the season. Fourth from bottom Wickford are very much a new-look side this term and will fancy their chances of moving up in the second half of the season.

Basildon have been giving some outstanding performances in recent weeks, but are still well adrift at the bottom and trail a Hutton side immediately above them by 46 points.

Tomorrow, with a host of players missing as they’re off to Wembley for an Oasis concert, life could be tough at second-placed Hornchurch.

Division 1: Loughton v Hutton.

Premier Division: Brentwood v Woodford Wells, Colchester & East Essex v Upminster, Gidea Park & Romford v Ardleigh Green, Hainault & Clayhall v Chelmsford, Wanstead v South Woodford.