Braintree Cricket Club are looking to put their tough start to life back in division one of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship behind them.

A 131-run defeat was not the result they hoped for in their derby clash with Witham last weekend to leave them rock bottom and still winless after five games.

However, skipper Will Jackson is hoping the side can look forward now they have faced some of the toughest prospects the top flight could have thrown at them.

“We always knew it would be tough, but we have played three of what I feel will be the top four sides in the league at the end of the season in our first five games,” said Jackson, who is currently sidelined by a broken wrist.

“Wivenhoe, Mildenhall and Witham will all be up there, but our next four are against sides who we feel are beatable.

“We’ve had probably the toughest start out of anyone in the division.

“I know we are bottom at the moment, but we’re looking to get results in the games coming up.

“We have Hadleigh on Saturday, who are one place above us and we have to be looking to beat them.

“I view the league as two separate ones really, with sides at the top and then the four or five who we find ourselves among at the moment.

“If we can beat those around us and take points off the higher ones along the way then we’ll be fine.

“We know Saturday’s game against Hadleigh is a huge game and I know they will view it the same way as neither of us have had a great start.

“But if we can win games like this we’ll make sure we are there in the second part of the season.

“It’s still early days but it is an important game at the weekend.”

Jackson said he didn’t expect many changes to the side that faced Witham.