BASILDON & Pitsea captain Michael Gray admits tomorrow’s match against fellow strugglers Old Brentwoods is massive in the context of their season.

Gray’s team are just a point above Old Brentwoods, who currently occupy the final Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Two relegation spot.

Old Brentwoods are winless so far this season, while Basildon have lost five of their six matches.

And Gray says Basildon must not allow their opponents to get any wind in their sails.

“It is a big game tomorrow at Old Brentwoods,” he said.

“They are a point below us and we need that breathing space.

“They came up from Division Three with us so we know them well but it really is a big one. A win would give us a real boost.

Psychologically it is huge. We have Wickford and Horndon to play in the weeks ahead before another tough run of games so we need to get some decent results.

“We don’t want Old Brentwoods to have that confidence.”

Basildon welcome back Dan Bedford, although will be without Lloyd Lambert.

Old Southendian & Southchurch are on a run of five matches without victory and things aren’t set to get any easier with the visit of league leaders Hainault & Clayhall.

However, they were beaten by Wickford last weekend - their first defeat of the season.

And Old Boys captain Matt Wilson said his team need to improve their ‘cricket knowledge’ if they are to emerge victorious.

“Saturday shows they are beatable,” said Wilson.

“They were beaten by Wickford, who are a good side too.

“In terms of us, there are areas we need to improve on. Results aren’t going our way and our cricketing knowledge needs to get better.

“We need to play simple cricket and we need to do what we were doing in the first few games.”

Callum Wheeler and Matt Austin are out and Sam Hodgson will return to the line-up.

Wickford are aiming to pick up a second straight win when they play at Oakfield Parkonians.

They defeated league leaders Hainault and Clayhall last weekend to secure a morale-boosting triumph.

And they go up against a Parks side who have lost three of the last four.

League whipping boys Horndon-on-the-Hill welcome third-placed Loughton as they look to end a run of six consecutive defeats.

However, victory could be enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.