JONNY Bassett-Graham believes home form could be a crucial factor for sides involved in the promotion race – including Colchester and East Essex.

Darren Eckford’s side are back at Castle Park tomorrow where they play Woodford Wells, aiming to boost their Shepherd Neame Essex League division one title hopes.

Second-placed Colchester will head into the game with plenty of confidence, following their impressive triumph over leaders Shenfield last weekend.

They lie just nine points off top spot – and player-coach Bassett-Graham believes how they perform on home territory could prove to be key, this season.

Bassett-Graham told the Daily Gazette: “For all of the teams in the competition, the ability to play at home is going to be a big factor in the season.

“There will be a lot of different conditions to contend with and a lot of different grounds to play at.

“We’re at home again on Saturday and we’ll be hoping to make that advantage count.”

Colchester have five league wins to their name so far this season, along with two defeats.

“We’ve had a couple of really close games recently, one which we won against Hutton and another where we just missed out (against Fives and Heronians),” said Bassett-Graham, who has been Colchester’s first-choice wicket-keeper this season but took up bowling duties against Shenfield.

“We feel that we’re in a position to win close games and as a group, the first and second teams are coming together well.”

Bassett-Graham says he is enjoying his time at Colchester, having arrived from Auckland earlier this year to take up a dual playing and coaching role at Castle Park.

He added: “I’m loving every minute of my time at Colchester.

“I’m seeing a lot of progress being made already.

“Darren (Eckford) and Julian (Russell) have implemented a cultural ideal in terms of everyone putting in the maximum effort.

“You can’t always control the outcome but if you have the right attitude, that is definitely something you can control.”