COLCHESTER and East Essex player-coach Jonny Bassett-Graham believes there is likely to be an exciting finish to the Shepherd Neame Essex League division one season.

The high-flying Castle Park side play host to Southend-on-Sea and EMT tomorrow looking to put pressure on leaders Harold Wood.

Colchester are in second and lie 12 points adrift of the top of the table, as they head into their latest clash on the back of a resounding five-wicket win at Loughton.

And with 14 points currently separating the top-three sides in the division, Bassett-Graham is predicting a thrilling conclusion.

Bassett-Graham said: “It’s a case of so far, so good for us.

“We are there or thereabouts near the top of the table.

“The top four sides are relatively close together and there’s not a lot separating those sides.

“It looks like it could be an exciting finish to the season but we’re taking it one game at a time and we’re not worrying too much about the table.

“What we have to do is make sure we’re winning the small parts of the games that add up.”

For the third successive week, Colchester will be taking on a side who are situated in the division one relegation zone.

Opponents Southend-on-Sea and EMT lie second from bottom with only two wins to their name so far – but Bassett-Graham says the visitors’ lowly position will make no difference to Colchester and how they approach the game.

He added: “They’re all big games, whether we’re playing a team at the top of the table or a team at the bottom.

“They are all opportunities to get maximum points on the board and we have to make sure that we have to concentrate on the game that’s in front of us.”

Colchester’s second XI are also in action this weekend.

Andrew Kennedy’s side travel to play Southend-on-Sea & EMT at Southchurch Park in Second XI division one, looking to build on their 26-run win over Loughton last weekend.

Colchester currently lie sixth in the table, 34 points off the promotion places.