A cup final place shows Colchester and East Essex are a better side than their league position suggests, according to club captain Andrew Kennedy.

He told the Gazette that Sunday's win over Hampstead in the Cockspur National Knockout Trophy regional semi-final was what his side needed to keep the belief, following Saturday's disastrous defeat to Wanstead in the league.

Kennedy said: "Last time we got this far (15 years ago) I was doing my A-Levels, someone dropped out of the team and I was phoned at school and had to get to the game as soon as my exam was over.

"We lost. I'm hoping we go much further this time."

Colchester will face Cambridge Granta in the regional final in a few week's time and Kennedy said it is just reward for his side's effort.

He said: ""Hampstead were a much more experienced side than us and they let us know it.

"They appeared to think the result would be a formality when they saw Julian Russell and me turn up with a team of youngsters - ranging from 16 to 24.

"They assumed they were going to cruise to victory and they got one big surprise.

"They had the ex-Middlesex all-rounder Paul Weekes as captain and Imran Mohammed, formerly of Gloucestershire, as well as quite a few others who had played either First Class or representative cricket.

"Now we have to make sure we play like that in the league, or else our season threatens to fizzle out. We know we can do it"

Colchester won £300 prize money for the club and if they progress further hope to play in the final of the overall competition at Lord's, the winners of which receive several thousand pounds plus an invitation to take part in a tournament in the West Indies.

Colchester are away to Chingford tomorrow, with Twenty20 record holder Graham Napier set to be involved.

Having been left out of Essex's four-day side this season, Kennedy expected to have Napier available more often.

But since the start of the Twenty20 Cup and his inclusion in the Friends Provident Trophy side, Essex have been loathe to let him play club cricket, despite other Essex squad members turning out for the likes of Saffron Walden.

Kennedy said: "We wouldn't mind Napes coming to Chingford with us and hitting a six or ten.

"It was little surprise for those who know him well to see that innings. We've seen him play some extraordinary innings over the years and are all chuffed to bits for him."

Iain McQueen is in Greece, but Joe Austin is available, following a midweek appearance for Essex second XI.

Colchester's second team are at home to Chingford, with Lorrie Austin back at the helm.

First team: Andrew Kennedy (Capt), Tom George (wk), Joe Austin, Matt Austin, Greg De Silva, Malintha Gajanayake, Nick Gibbs, Andrew McGarry, Graham Napier, Julian Russell and Alex Young.

Second team: Lorrie Austin (Capt), Chris Stagg (wk), Omar Ahmed, Buddhi Attanayake, George Brown, Pat Dudman, Malcolm Edwards, Gareth Fisher, Rakesh Krishnan, Matt Mehen and Sam Stockwell.

l Colchester held a minute's silence before their game with Wanstead on Saturday, in memory of the paratroopers who died in Afghanistan.