FRINTON Cricket Club captain Kyran Young believes Saturday’s home clash with Great Witchingham is a “must-win” showdown for his title-chasing East Anglian Premier League side.

Despite being so early in the season, the Australian says it is imperative to ramp up the pressure on early pacesetters Mildenhall and Sudbury.

Frinton suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday - losing by just nine runs in a rain-hit clash at Sudbury, on the Duckworth Lewis System (DLS).

Now Young wants his players to get straight back on the victory trail and build on their early victories against Copdock and Old Ipswichian and Horsford.

“Witchingham is always a tough fixture,” he told the Gazette.

“They’re always competitive and a decent all-round team, with some standout Norfolk players.

“And even though it’s early in the season, I’d describe this game as must-win. Absolutely.

“It’s so important to bounce back after last week’s disappointment and we need to keep in touch with the top pack, rather than being under pressure to find points later in the season.

“I’d much rather have points on the board now and early-season wins are crucial, in my opinion.

“It’s always nice to put other teams under pressure, rather than being the ones playing catch-up, and even though we lost last weekend, there have been lots of positives so far.

“We’ve already shown we’re a side that can chase down any total and have a belief and confidence we can beat any team.”

Young was frustrated by the nature of Saturday’s defeat at Friars Street.

Frinton were given a target of 271 off 40 overs but the match was abandoned due to rain after 34 overs with the coastal side on 223 for seven and a DLS target of 232.

Sudbury therefore won by nine runs.

Nevertheless, there were plenty of positives, including four wickets for Young and Mervyn Westfield, a half-century for Michael Comber and a battling 45 from young opener Joe Fowler.

Dominic Stockdale, another up-and-coming player, chipped in with an unbeaten 25.

“The opportunity is certainly there for our best young players to come into the team and have a crack at Premier League cricket,” added Young.

“It’s nice to blood them when they’re in form and we’re a club that always try to promote young players, so when they take chances, as they did at the weekend, it’s very pleasing.

“It’s important to look to the future and we’re fortunate to have some talented young players here – players who will undoubtedly get even better and stronger and produce good results for Frinton.”

Young will make a straight swap at the top of his batting order this weekend.

Michael Griggs returns to the squad and will replace the unavailable Alex Price.

Frinton’s second team suffered a heavy defeat at home to Wivenhoe, losing by ten wickets in division one of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

Batting first, they were skittled for just 43, with Brendan Louw returning the extraordinary bowling figures of nine wickets for just 12 runs in his 5.5 overs.

Only openers Tony Stubbs (12) and Matt Heighes (19) managed double figures.

Wivenhoe then romped past their target in the seventh over.

Frinton head to Witham on Saturday.