Seasiders are in a ‘slump’ (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Seasiders are in a ‘slump’

5:04pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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Clacton Cricket Club are in a ‘slump’, according to frustrated Seasiders manager Gary Kirk.

The coastal side had to be content with a draw from last weekend’s crunch Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League match against Bury St Edmunds.

At one point they looked genuine contenders for the title this summer.

However, after a recent wobble in form, they have slipped to fifth in the table behind Swardeston, Vauxhall Mallards, Cambridge Granta and Bury.

Inconsistent Horsford visit Vista Road for Saturday’s match, which starts at 11am.

But, reflecting on last week’s disappointment, Kirk told the Gazette: “There’s no doubt that in the last few weeks we’ve started to struggle.

“Every facet of our performance has been lacking and the team are lacking in confidence.

“There’s been something missing over the past three weeks and we look a shadow of the side that were chasing to win the championship for the first time earlier in the year.

“Our fielding has been poor, with a number of crucial catches being spilled.

“We’ve been getting some poor umpiring decisions but, in the end, they’re factors every team goes through during a season.

“The test for our young side will be how we come out of this slump.”

Bury batted first and made 284 for four, with the wickets being shared between skipper Martin Smith (two), Craig Williams and Imran Sheikh.

In reply, the Seasiders finished on 224 for eight, with their top-scorer being the classy James Alder, on 82.

Clacton have now played ten games – winning three, losing just once but drawing on six occasions.

Their second team had a much better time, winning by eight wickets at Stowmarket in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division three three on Saturday.

However, Clacton’s young PDQ Cars North Essex League team lost for the second week in a row when they went down by 70 runs at Maldon.

They are still top of the table, though.

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