JAKE Wakelin says Witham Cricket Club's players have taken defeat "on the chin" and are now looking to bounce back from their first setback of the year in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one.

Little had been able to stand in Witham's way in the opening weeks of the campaign as they had gone unhindered in amassing four straight victories, however, they had a day to forget in a 122-run defeat by Coggeshall.

Captain Wakelin said it was a day when nothing seemed to go Witham's way, but his players had accepted that it was a poor performance and he is looking for a response on Saturday when they travel to Worlington.

He said: "It went wrong from the first ball against Coggeshall really.

"It was just one of those games where we didn't seem to do anything right.

"The only one who could really hold his head up was Jack (Sambrook) as he bowled OK and took a couple of wickets, but no-one else bowled consistently.

"The pitch wasn't a minefield and we still felt 250 was gettable with our batting line-up, but I can't really describe our batting performance.

"We needed five an over and it was pretty even when I was first out with the score on 40-odd, but if I'm honest, a lot of our boys got themselves out and we never looked like getting close.

"It was just a bad day at the office.

"But we have a couple of tough games coming up against Wivenhoe and Mildenhall next month so we need to bounce back against Worlington on Saturday.

"The boys have taken the Coggeshall result on the chin and it may be a bit of a wake-up call ahead of those tough games.

"We haven't taken anyone for granted, but it's just one of those things that happen.

"The boys are good as gold and we're allowed an off day.

"Unfortunately it happened last weekend but we want to get back on a winning run this weekend."

Wakelin said he expected his regular opening batting partner Kaan Hawes to be unavailable for the trip to Worlington, but said it would give a chance to promote Michael Godwin from the club's seconds.

The youngster has been plundering runs in division five, including a knock of 96 in a nine-wicket win at Great Bromley last weekend, and the first-team skipper said it would be a good opportunity to get him back up a level.