COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club captain Jake Foley admits every game will be like a cup final for his first XI side between now and the end of the season.

The promotion-chasing Castle Park outfit lie just a point adrift of the promotion places in Shepherd Neame Essex League division one, heading into their home clash with Orsett and Thurrock tomorrow.

Colchester go into this weekend’s fixture on the back of a win over Hainault and Clayhall and have a strong side available again, with Josh Rymell and Julian Russell both available again.

However, skipper Foley knows that they cannot afford many slip-ups in the final run-in, if they are to secure a return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Foley said: “I think we need to win pretty much every game now, between now and the end of the season.

“We have to make sure that we get promoted – everyone knows that.

“We have to treat each game now as if it’s a cup final.

“We’re only one or two points off second place at the moment.

“We know that we’re playing Buckhurst Hill – who are second – the following weekend.

“The next two games are crucial for us.

“But we have to concentrate on our game against Orsett and Thurrock first.

“They managed to beat us in a close game earlier in the season and I’m sure that the boys will be wanting to get one over them.

“Confidence is high but we have to make sure that we don’t get complacent, which has happened in previous weeks this season.”

Foley admits he will have some tough decisions to make as he ponders his starting line-up for the Orsett game, which is part of the club’s Pink Day staged in aid of Breast Cancer charity.

Foley added: “This weekend, we have our strongest side available this season if not in the last two seasons.”