COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club chairman Andrew Kennedy described their defeat against Shenfield as a “missed opportunity” after they were beaten by 35 runs at Castle Park.

The hosts remain in the bottom two of the Shepherd Neame Essex League first XI premier division, after failing to chase down their target of 237 for victory.

After being put into bat, Shenfield were dismissed for 236 in 48.5 overs, with skipper Jake Foley (4-31) the pick of the Colchester bowlers.

But despite half-centuries from Jack Crace (51) and Ollie Lovejoy (50), they fell short to slide to a disappointing defeat.

Kennedy told the Daily Gazette: “We really missed out.

“Shenfield got 236 in the end but at one point, they were 180 for eight.

“They managed to add 50-odd runs for the final two wickets, which was a bit disappointing.

“I think the target was well within our reach but we got off to a bad start.

“After that, we were going along nicely on four an over and at drinks, I think we needed 110 runs to win with six wickets in hands.

“At that point, we were cruising but we lost wickets in the lower middle and lower order.

“The wicket was fine so it was very much a missed opportunity for us.”

Foley was in fine form for Colchester, with the spinner proving economical in his ten-over spell.

Ben Allison (2-42) and Ollie Bocking (2-44) were also in the wickets.

Kennedy said: “Jake had got a bit of a pasting the previous week at Chingford but that was more to do with the size of the ground and it was difficult for spin bowlers.

“He bowled very well against Shenfield and it was great that he was able to take four wickets.”

Colchester’s batsmen got off to a terrible start in reply, with openers Greg DeSilva and Tom Sinclair quickly departing to leave the home side wobbling on 12 for two.

A fine middle-order partnership of 72 between Crace and Lovejoy helped steer them towards victory, only for Colchester to quickly go from 173 for seven to 201 all out to fall to a fifth defeat of the season.

Colchester will be looking to get a much-needed win this weekend when they host third-placed Chelmsford, at Castle Park.

A fine century from Feroze Ahmed (103) was not enough as Colchester II (339-8) lost to Shenfield II (342-4) by six wickets, in the second XI premier division.