Harold Wood chairman Tom Clarke wants his side to play their game with no pressure against Essex Division One rivals Gidea Park & Romford this weekend.
Wood will host Jamal Francis men tomorrow (Saturday) and are confident if they play the way they can they’ll come away with a win.
“We know if we play as well as we can we’re a match for any team,” Clarke said.
“We’ve played them three times already this season, we’ve won two and lost one, so we know it’s going to be a good game.”
Clarke praised the opposition, but believes they have no stand-out players and they need to concentrate on themselves, instead of Gidea Park.
“They’re a decent team, I think they’ve had guys step up to the plate when required, often different guys as well,” he admitted.
“I wouldn’t say they have any stand-out players to be wary of.
“We’re not concentrating on them, we’re just worried about our own performance.
“We just want to go out there and play cricket like it’s the first day of the season.”
The pressure is on as Harold Wood sits just above the relegation zone with two matches left and Clarke strongly believes they can’t even be thinking about that.
“I don’t think we can worry about it too much, just need to take each game as it comes,” he said.
“Hopefully the guys are in the zone for the last two games of the season.”
Harold Wood go into the clash on the back of a draw against Buckhurst Hill, although Clarke was disappointed, he believes there was positives.
While, Park beat Woodford Wells by five wickets in their last outing.
“Afra Malik got his first half-century, which was great as he’s a real good young prospect.”
The club’s seconds clinched promotion to the second Premier Division despite going down by three wickets at Southend-on-Sea.
The club’s nearest rivals Chingford suffered defeat to Wickford, meaning Wood are promoted with two games to spare, even after falling to Southend thansk to their captain Phil Gray sealing the win with an unbeaten 85.
The thirds stay in the hunt for promotion to the Premier Division after an eight wicket win over Wanstead IV.
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