WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA captain Chris Gladwin is calling on his team to discover their 'killer instinct' ahead of tomorrow's home Division Three match against Epping.

The Chalkwell Park side lost their clash with Basildon & Pitsea by six runs last weekend in a game that former Essex player Gladwin thought they would win.

After bowling out the men from Mopsies for 166, Westcliff were stung when they were bowled out just short of the winning line.

"I need them to find the killer instinct," Gladwin said. "We have done it in a number of games but we need to do it in every single game so that we can finish sides off.

"Whether it's still a lack of experience sometimes, I don't know, but what we did last year was incredible with such a young team.

"It was a great win in our opening game against West Essex and we took a gamble against Basildon chasing it. I really fancied us to do it and we should have won it."

Epping are second in the table going into tomorrow's match at Chalkwell Park and suffered improved fortunes last summer after strengthening their team.

Gladwin said Westcliff will nearly be at full strength with three spinners in the attack and batsman Sam Walker returning.

"I'm hoping that we did a reasonable good job against them and that it will be our lucky day," added Gladwin.

Basildon & Pitsea are riding high in second place following their victory over Westcliff at the weekend.

Michael Gray's team head to a West Essex sidew lying seventh tomorrow

The only way is up for Benfleet after two defeats has left them bottom of the table heading into their home match against fifth-placed Walthamstow.

But skipper Gavin Blowes is hoping his young side will be able to pick up where they left off last season against the visitors from east London.

"We beat them twice last year but we know they are a strong outfit," said Blowes, who took over the captaincy from Gareth Steed this year.

"We seem to beat the good sides and teams around us but struggle against the teams at the bottom.

"But we're at the bottom, so we are putting the two defeats behind us and are starting again on Saturday.

"Our aim was fourth at the beginning of the season and if we can get fourth place with a young side then we will have done well."

Stanford-le-Hope climbed to sixth in the table as a result of their nine-wicket triumph over Benfleet last weekend.

Matthew Page's team visit table-topping Old Brentwoods tomorrow hoping to inflict a first defeat on the top dogs following back-to-back wins.