Upminster captain Alan Ison insists the Hamro Foundation Essex League is ridiculously tight at this stage as they continue to chase down top spot.

The Upminster Park outfit are currently second behind Fives & Heronians in Division One but the skipper knows anything could happen yet.

“It’s quite a ridiculous league at the minute, you’ve got a team at the top on 92 points and a team at the bottom on 61 points,” said Ison.

“One win you can be at the top and one loss you could be at the bottom. It makes it exciting as everyone is beating everyone, so I'm sure it will be an exciting finish as well I’d imagine.”

They travel to Horndon on the Hill on Saturday as they look to build on their latest victory over Old Southendian & Southchurch.

“They’ve won a few games, they’ve got a couple of good players in Paul Bennett and Ryan Plom, so we’ll have to be at our best to beat them," added Ison.

“Hopefully we can take some momentum from Saturday into this game and get another victory.”

It was a two-wicket victory over Old Southendian & Southchurch on Saturday after Ison lost the toss but Upminster managed to bowl their opponents out for 122.

Ison (5-38), Nehal Butt (4-34) and John Curtis (1-45) all bowled well before they reached their small target, after a brief scare.

“After losing two close games it was nice to be back winning a game and obviously It was a close game so it was nice to be on the right end of the result,” Ison said.

“It was a positive win, hopefully we can build on that now over the next couple of weeks.

Romford Recorder: A Ison hits out for Upminster during Upminster CC vs Fives & Heronians CC, Hamro Foundation Essex League Cricket at Upminster Park on 5th June 2021A Ison hits out for Upminster during Upminster CC vs Fives & Heronians CC, Hamro Foundation Essex League Cricket at Upminster Park on 5th June 2021 (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

“They were 70-1 at one stage, so to get them out for 122 was a pretty good effort from the bowlers on a hot day.

“We were pleased with chasing down 122 and it was a good effort all round.”

He added: “It’s always tough chasing low scores, I think it’s more of a mental thing that the actual wicket itself.

Romford Recorder: P Gupta hits 4 runs for Upminster during Upminster CC vs Fives & Heronians CC, Hamro Foundation Essex League Cricket at Upminster Park on 5th June 2021P Gupta hits 4 runs for Upminster during Upminster CC vs Fives & Heronians CC, Hamro Foundation Essex League Cricket at Upminster Park on 5th June 2021 (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

“Kiran Kullar batted well up the top, Harry Jenkins chipped in, then myself and Billy Wright came in to play an important knock to get us over the line.”