MALDON will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of victories when they welcome East Bergholt to Drapers Farm.

Marc Gozzett’s division two side – relegated last summer – have made an emphatic start to the new campaign with two wins out of two so far.

They added to their opening-day scalp of Haverhill with a five-wicket success at Brockley on Saturday.

And, with promotion very much the goal, Gozzett told the Gazette: “That’s what we’re expecting and we should be strong enough to compete.

“Due to the league restructuring, division two is now much lower in terms of overall standard.

“We should be challenging at the top and, if we’re not, it’ll be a big disappointment.”

Maldon are going through a spell of transition, following last season’s relegation, and not so long ago they were challenging in the East Anglian Premier League.

While getting back there remains an aim, the main focus at the moment is rebuilding and nurturing their young players into dependable first-teamers.

“We came down from the Premier League four years ago and one day, if we have the home-grown players capable of competing in that league, we’d be happy to go back up again,” said Gozzett.

“For now, though, we’re just concentrating on getting promoted this summer, maintaining our position in division one and then reassessing our squad further down the road.

“A lot would depend on possible new players we could bring to the club and also the progress our young players make.

“At the moment, we’re rebuilding and we need to wait and see how things pan out.”

In division one, early table-toppers Abberton will be hoping to build on last weekend’s 78-run success at Essex rivals Coggeshall.

They face a double-header, with a trip to Mildenhall tomorrow being followed by a game at Frinton’s Ashlyns Road on Bank Holiday Monday.

Russell Everson’s Tendring side have two derby matches as they visit Coggeshall tomorrow, having gone down by three runs at Exning on Saturday.

The other three Essex sides in division one all face away games, with Elmstead Grasshoppers going to Exning, Wivenhoe visiting Ipswich and East Suffolk and Sudbury playing hosts to Mistley.

Aside from Maldon’s date with Bergholt, the most eye-catching clash in division two features Witham and Brightlingsea.

Clacton’s young second team will be hoping for success at home to Sudbury, having produced a brave performance in last week’s division three defeat at Bury St Edmunds.

The Seasiders fielded seven players aged 17 and, despite going down by four wickets, could take great pride in their performance at the Victoria Ground.

Braintree host Exning seconds while a tense derby affair is on the cards at Church End, here Little Bardfield Village entertain Kelvedon and Feering.