COLCHESTER and East Essex skipper Jake Foley admits their batting let them down after they slumped to a heavy defeat at Belhus.

The Castle Park side were beaten by ten wickets in their latest Shepherd Neame Essex League First XI division one match, to lose ground near the top of the table.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Colchester were only able to muster a disappointing total of 97, with only three of their players managing double figures.

Belhus had no trouble chalking off the required runs, leaving captain Foley and his players with plenty to ponder ahead of their vital home clash with second-placed Harold Wood, this weekend.

Foley said: “Our batting let us down.

“We lost some early wickets and we kept losing them.

“We didn’t play as well as we know we can play – they bowled relatively well but we didn’t help ourselves.

“We came up against Max Osborne who’s played at county level.

“A lot of the lads know him and he was on his game but we didn’t help ourselves.

“Alex Berry was the only one of our batsmen who did himself justice really and he got a bit of an unlucky decision.

“The top order didn’t do their job but that’s cricket and these things happen.

“To be fair to the lads, everyone tried hard and we had a slighter weaker side, last weekend.

“It’s not ideal but players will learn from it.

“Everyone’s sticking together and hopefully we can bounce back, this weekend.

“We’re four points off the top two, with 12 games to go.”

Alex Berry top-scored with 28 and Ollie Lovejoy (18) and Taurai Muzarabani (12) reached double figures but Colchester’s bowlers were left with an uphill task and Belhus required only 18 overs to reach their target.

“We still felt that we had a chance of getting something from the game,” added Foley.

“The wicket was a bit variable but we needed to go out and take some quick wickets and that didn’t happen, unfortunately.”

Colchester’s second team sit bottom of the Second XI premier division after losing by eight wickets to Woodford Wells, at Castle Park.

Colchester made 194 for six and the visitors had little trouble securing the runs needed for victory.