Promotion to the top flight rather than the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division two title remains the principle goal for Braintree Cricket Club.

Despite Braintree’s dominant nine-wicket win against Long Melford and title rivals Copford and Easton slipping up in their respective games, skipper Will Jackson insists their primary focus remains on finishing in division two’s top two.

He admitted that the latest round of results had reignited their hopes of the title that had been dealt a blow when they lost to Copford at the end of July, but feels taking the division two crown would still only be the “cherry on the cake”.

He said: “We have a game at Haverhill on Saturday and it’s a big one for us.

“Not because they are fourth, but because we have to keep the pressure on Copford.

“We can’t afford to slip up.

“Copford and Easton losing has put us back in the title race and while I’m not going to tell the boys that we’re not going for the title, our main aim is still to get promoted. We want to be a division one club and we know that if we win all our games then we are up.

“If Copford slip up and we take the top step, then superb.

“We are chasing them down and five wins means it’s division one cricket for the club.

“Getting promoted a year after Tommy Gould died would be great so that’s the focus and winning the title would just be the cherry on the cake.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time.

“I’ve said to the boys that we’re now in a five-game season and to forget what has gone before.

“We’re very focused on what we need to do.”

Jackson said Rory Ainsley and Ben Golds are set to miss the trip to Haverhill, but he was hoping that both may still be able to play.