COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club chairman Andrew Kennedy admits the absence of key players has hampered their Shepherd Neame Essex League form so far.

But he is confident that the Castle Park side will improve their fortunes, in the second half of the First XI premier division campaign.

Colchester head into tomorrow’s home game against Chelmsford (12.30pm start) lying second from bottom in the table.

But they are set to welcome back influential trio Julian Russell, Greg Stephens and Josh Rymell to their squad.

Kennedy said: “We have a team with lots of young players and we’ve missed some key players this year, too.

“Aside from Darren Eckford, myself and possibly Greg DeSilva, the rest of the team are all pretty raw at this level.

“Ben Stephens has missed out for several weeks with his back problem and Greg Stephens has been injured and has also been working away in Germany, so hasn’t been available.

“Josh Rymell has been playing school cricket and has also been unavailable and Julian Russell has also not been around.

“Even without those four players we still have a decent enough squad of cricketers.

“But when you lose that calibre of player who are pretty key to your team, it’s always going to hit you hard.

“I think any other team in our league losing those kind of players from their side would also suffer.

“When you look at our first XI last season, there are only four players who are playing regularly for us this season.

“We’re hoping that availability will pick up will pick up now.

“We play our ninth game of the season this weekend which will mean we are halfway through, so there’s still plenty of time.

“We’re in the bottom two but we’re not adrift at the moment and there’s still a long way to go.

“We know that it’s essential that we beat the sides in the bottom half of the table, in the second half of the season.”

Colchester will be looking for their second league win of the season this weekend.

But they take on a Chelmsford side who lie third in the table and hunting for their sixth victory of the campaign.

Kennedy added: “Chelmsford have got probably the best bowling attack in the league if they have everyone playing and they have two very good spinners in Ben Waring and James Clifford.

“That shows the kind of strength that they have if they’re all available but if I’m being honest, their batting side is not quite as strong so we have opportunities.”