THERE was a key match at the bottom of Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one as Frinton notched a morale-boosting victory against fellow strugglers Mistley.

They won by 87 runs at Ashlyns Road to leave themselves two places and five points above their Tendring neighbours.

The Swans are third from bottom, above only Hadleigh and last season's champions, Elmstead.

Batting first, Frinton made 263 for seven, largely thanks to John Hambrook's 97 and Joe Fowler's 60.

Tim Scott took two wickets before team-mate Matt Bibby hit 44, but Mistley were all out for 176.

Dominic Stockdale was Frinton's bowling star, taking two wickets for just two runs in 1.3 overs, and there was also a pair of wickets each for Jermaine Shillingford and Cameron Rhodes.

Elmstead remain rooted to the bottom after losing by 11 runs at home to Hadleigh - despite the best efforts of Joe Sheekey (four for 32) and Michael Cursons (94 not out).

At the other end of the table, second-placed Witham made it nine wins in a row as they triumphed by seven wickets at home to Halstead.

Shaun Bragg (three for 18) and Jake Wakelin (three for 37) restricted the visitors to just 109, before James Smith hit an unbeaten 49 and James Suett an unbeaten 42.

Two other Essex sides met as Maldon defeated hosts Wivenhoe by 92 runs.

Max Bryant (105), Ian Elliott (52) and Chris Harris (47) shone with the bat, while Elliott also returned three for 20.

Wivenhoe's main men were James Butcher (three for 45) and Tom Durrell (54).

Worlington wrapped up top spot after a 107-run victory against Coggeshall, for whom George Blackwell claimed three for 47.

In division two, Clacton pipped Copford by just seven runs while Charlie Watts (six for 55) and Oliver Parsons (104 not out) starred as Kelvedon and Feering won by nine wickets at Braintree.