Injured Harold Wood skipper says team must remember previous Chingford wins

Tom Clarke says the key to a Harold Wood win at home to reigning champions Chingford is to focus on their own game.

Despite losing their last fixture, Wood moved off the bottom and above Ilford at the foot of the Essex League Premier Division standings.

The team are still looking for their first success in the league this season, but Clarke knows the team have shown in the past they can compete with Chingford.

“It will be a tough game. The last time we played Chingford at our place they thrashed us, but we beat them at theirs,” said skipper Clarke, who is currently nursing a fractured finger.

“But it’s got to the point in the season when we have to start focusing on our own game and not worry about the opposition.”

Harold Wood could come up against talented youngster Daniel Lawrence, who has played for Essex this season.

And Clarke knows how dangerous the 17-year-old is, having previously played against him, adding: “I’ve come up against Dan since he was a young lad playing in the seconds.

“It’s great to see young guys come through the ranks and play first-class cricket for the county.

“It’s why you want to play cricket, though. You want to play against the best.”