DAN Carter hopes to build on his successful first season with Frinton Cricket Club.

The 21-year-old bowler took 25 wickets during an impressive Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League campaign.

He made a successful transition from the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship, having previously played for the likes of Elmstead Grasshoppers.

Now he wants to build on it and have another great year for the Ashlyns Road club, who exceeded all expectations by finishing as runners-up.

“Last season went really well for me,” said Brightlingsea-based Carter, who claimed season-best figures of five for 46 in last April’s match at Swardeston.

“When I got my chance, I feel I took it.

“I built on it throughout the year and my confidence went through the roof.

“I didn’t expect to get that many wickets but had a really good run towards the end of the year and it’s left me feeling really positive about this season.

“It should be good and I’m really looking forward to it.

“Hopefully it’ll go well again, for me personally and for the team.”

Like Carter, Frinton were finding their feet in the Premier League, having been promoted as Two Counties Championship champions.

And they took to it like a duck to water, finishing as runners-up to Swardeston.

“No-one expected last year to go so well,” said Carter, whose side are away to Bury St Edmunds on Saturday.

“I was just looking at helping the team stay up but to finish as runners-up exceeded all expectations.

“We’re a good all-round team, in my opinion.

“No-one really stood out last season and was the best player in the team by a country mile.

“Everyone chipped in, rather than a couple of individuals, and I reckon we can have another good year and be in contention at the top again.

“(New skipper) Kyran Young has brought some good things into training and hopefully that can be an advantage.

“We’ll take it game by game and see what happens.”

Frinton had a rare disappointment on Saturday, losing by nine wickets at home to Vauxhall Mallards.

They were all out for just 78 – only four players reached double figures – and the visitors reached their lowly target for the loss of just one wicket, taken by new recruit Harry Nightingale