STANFORD le Hope Cricket Club captain Lee Knight admits the hard work starts now after securing promotion on Saturday.

The first team won Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Three to ensure an immediate return to Division Two following relegation in 2013.

But Knight said the team is determined not to rest on their laurels so they can hit the ground running next season.

“Our aim this season was to get promoted and winning the championship was a nice bonus,” said Knight. “Last time we went up we had a really good year and I think we finished fourth.

“It would be good to do that again but the hard work starts now and we are looking to do a lot of stuff off the field to make sure we are ready next season.”

Stanford signed off with an eight-wicket win over a depleted Basildon & Pitsea team at the Stanford Rec.

Knight put the visitors into bat and saw them bowled out for 97.

Ross Poulton took 5-34 and Adam Knight 4-20 with the other wicket falling to a run out.

With most of the Basildon team at a wedding, their side mainly comprised of second and third team players, with Ross Casson (49) and James Casson (16) the only batsmen into double figures.

Stanford lost opening batsman Martin Leslie for a duck but his opening partner Martin Leslie got 27. Poulton scored an unbeaten 53, including the winning runs, and Knight 18 not out as Stanford replied with 100-2.

“It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season but we will start again next year,” said Basildon captain Michael Gray.

“We have a few youngsters coming through and hopefully we can attract a few other players.

“I still think if we get a full team out we can compete but availability has been a problem this year and I don't think I’ve put the same team out in any game.

“Everything went wrong for us and once we got into that rut of losing games it was difficult to get out of it. Hopefully we will have a better season next year.”

Old Southendian & Southchurch had to settle for third place after drawing with Harlow Town, who were promoted as runners-up.

The Old Boys elected to bat and reached 200-8, with Michael Hill (45), Rob Johnston (31), Adam Hunt (29no) and Gary Threadgold (27) leading the resistance against an attack led by Ramya Upadhyay (3-49) and Ronnie Yates (3-54).

Hill took 2-36 and Adam Hunt 2-48 as Harlow Town replied with 194-6, with Upadhyay (52no), Shiraz Ali (47) and Joe Holland (42) leading the innings.

“We came up a bit short and fair play to Harlow Town,” said Southendian captain Aaron Lucas.

“We put a lot of pressure on them and they stood up to it.

“We could have done with a few early wickets to break the back of their order.

“But we threw everything at it but it was just not to be and it was a disappointing end to the season.”

Benfleet’s hopes of finishing the season with a flourish evaporated following a two-wicket defeat at Old Brentwoods.

The visitors’ batting line-up fired to get them to 231-8, with Stephen Reeve (47), Gareth Steed (39), Gavin Blowes (31) and Aaron Toner (30) anchoring the innings.

But Benfleet were undone by opening batsman Ubaid Kiani (114), who helped Brentwoods reply with 234-8, with Paul Frensham (3-91) and Charlie Huntley (2-37) leading the attack.