Colchester and East Essex captain Jake Foley believes Upminster can play a big part in the First XI Division One promotion race.

It is tight at the top of the Shepherd Neame Essex League table with four games remaining, with just 32 points separating the leading four teams.

Colchester lie just two points off the top two heading into their game at Woodford Wells on Saturday, despite their disappointing home defeat at the hands of Upminster.

And skipper Foley feels their victors last weekend can have a big influence on who wins the race to secure promotion to the top-flight.

Upminster, who lie fifth, host Hutton this weekend and travel to play Buckhurst Hill the following week, while they take on Belhus in early September.

Foley said: “We’re hoping that Upminster will have a big say in the promotion race, in the next few weeks.

“They are due to play the other top three teams up there chasing with us – Hutton on Saturday, before playing Buckhurst Hill and Belhus.

“I’m hoping that they will do us a favour but we know that we have to win our games, too.

“We know that Upminster will be a better side than they were last year and they showed that us against us, last weekend.

“They’re a good side and there’s every chance that they could cause an upset in their remaining games against the top sides.

“It’s all to play for, in terms of promotion.

“If Upminster beat Hutton this weekend, it becomes even tighter between the top-four sides in the division.

“We’ve also got Belhus to play in a couple of weeks which will be a crucial game but our focus at the moment is on playing at Woodford Wells, this weekend.”

Colchester are likely to field the same team for the second successive week this weekend – and Foley believes it is a strong line-up.

He said: “We have the same side available and it’s a very strong side and we hope that we can come away from the game with the right result.

“There’s 100 points still to play for and I think 70 points probably gets you promoted.

“We have to perform like we know we can.”

Colchester were disappointed with their fielding against Upminster last weekend, with several catches being dropped.

However, skipper Foley is hopeful that it was a one off.

He added: “Our fielding wasn’t as good as it could be against Upminster and that’s something we’ll be looking to improve on, this weekend.

“We hadn’t performed like that in the field at all this year, before last weekend and to drop as many catches as we did was frustrating.”

Colchester’s second XI are in action at Castle Park, on Saturday.

They play host to their Upminster counterparts in Second XI Premier Division.