CAPTAIN Louis Cant is telling his Braintree Cricket Club team to play with freedom and with smiles on their faces to regain the form that has taken them to the top of the race to join the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship's top flight.

With four games of the season remaining and ahead of a home game against Little Bardfield on Saturday, Braintree still sit top of division two and in pole position in the push for promotion.

However, a six-run defeat at Kesgrave means Cant's side have now lost three games in a row - their worst run of form this year - and they know they need to turn that around to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

With his team's lead now cut to just six points, the Braintree skipper wants them to rediscover the form that took them to the summit.

He feels it is with the bat that the Dolphins most need to regain their mojo and he is urging players to have fun in the middle and look to be positive as they have been throughout the majority of the campaign.

Cant said: "We’ve bowled well in all of our recent losses, it’s just been our batting that has gone a bit wayward.

"Whether that’s because of pressure from the title race, or just a lapse in concentration, maybe with it getting to the end of the season - I’m not too sure.

"But we need to go back to what we have been doing all season and start playing positive cricket, playing with freedom and having fun."

The trip to Little Bardfield on Saturday will not only give Braintree a chance to get their title push back on track, but also to avenge one of only two defeats they suffered in the first half of the season.

A four-wicket defeat was a blow in June and, with promotion at stake, Cant recognises the need to make sure his team don't suffer a home and away reverse.

"It’s a must win (game)," he added.

"The league is still ours to win and how we do that is simple.

"Win every game with maximum points and if we do that, no-one can catch us."