SKIPPER Andrew Kennedy insists Colchester and East Essex’s players remain in good spirits despite their winless start to the new Shepherd Neame Essex League season.

The Castle Park side are still searching for the first win of the embryonic premier division campaign, following their 84-run home defeat at the hands of Hornchurch, last weekend.

That loss followed hot on the heels of Colchester’s opening-day defeat at Chelmsford but Kennedy insists he is not worried by their opening two performances.

He said: “There are only fairly small margins that we have to change and we’ve come up against two good teams, so far.

“Chelmsford will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and I’d expect Hornchurch to do well, too.

“It’s not a disaster that we’ve lost our first two games, although we’d obviously had liked to have done better in them - there’s a very good spirit among the squad.”

Colchester’s bowlers initially made good headway against Hornchurch, with Ben Stephens (3-63) claiming three of their opening four wickets.

But having been reduced to 139 for six, the visitors made the most of a good batting pitch to declare on 277 for six, thanks to telling contributions from Roy Smith (106 not out) and Essex player Thomas Moore (52 no).

“Hornchurch are a pretty decent outfit but we missed a chance or two,” said Kennedy.

“We made a decent start but unfortunately we then let them get away a bit after lunch and Roy Smith and their Essex player Tom Moore doubled the score.

“They both played very well but we probably didn’t take our opportunities.

“I think had we taken one of their wickets, we would have gone from there and taken more.”

All of Colchester’s top-four batsman made it into double figures in reply with Joe Austin (44) top scoring.

But the hosts were disappointingly dismissed for 193, inside 52 overs.

Kennedy added: “It was a very good wicket and our batters generally made good starts without going on.

“Jack (Hebron) got out just before tea which to be honest wasn’t ideal and more followed after that.”

Both teams were deducted a point apiece after they failed to report the result of the game on time to the Essex League.

Colchester’s second team (166) narrowly lost by six runs to Southend on Sea and EMT (172) in the second XI premier division, while Colchester III (113-8) played with ten men in their seven-wicket loss to Wanstead and Snaresbrook (117-3) in third XI division one.