COGGESHALL Cricket Club captain George Blackwell knows how important this weekend's game could be as they look to break their Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one duck against Halstead.

Blackwell's team will host Halstead on the back of a tough start to life back in the top flight, with a depleted Coggeshall side going down to a 94-run defeat at Witham last weekend following their loss at Woolpit on the opening day of the campaign.

It has left Coggeshall as one of only two teams in the league without a victory so far and Blackwell is keen to get their list of wins up and running.

He said: "There are no excuses but we have had a tricky start with the fixtures, weather and availability but we need to start our season this Saturday.

"It's going to be a long season but one that I can see taking a few twists and turns at the top and bottom all the way through.

"This weekend we have full availability and hopefully the weather and it will be our first game at home so we need to kick-start our season on Saturday.

"We're looking for a victory.

"Only us and Elmstead are yet to get off the mark and getting the first win is crucial; I want that this Saturday and we will have no excuses."

Blackwell was one of five players who were unavailable for the team's trip to Witham last weekend.

The hosts, who are sitting top of the division one table after a strong start, set a target of 218 and were then able to restrict the Coggeshall reply with early wickets and the use of spin to keep it tight in the middle overs as the visitors were all out for 124.

The first-team skipper added: "Unfortunately we had two weddings going on last weekend, so across the club, we were light on numbers and that meant the first team were five light.

"I spoke to a couple of the boys that played and they felt they bowled well to restrict Witham to 218 but at the same time due to the recent weather it as a tough pitch to bat on.

"Batting-wise we just weren't at the races.

"Charlie Green gave a good knock, hitting 47 but there was not enough strength around him for us to put pressure on the target.

"But the players that played put up a great fight.

"Charlie was playing his first game of the season and performed well with bat and ball, while Ed King and Kane Addison also bowled well and all the players that made the jump up from the seconds can be proud of their efforts."