Maldon skippers praise youngsters after rough results

7:36pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

Maldon Cricket Club is proud of the spirit shown by members such as Marc Gozzett and Stuart Coker - both skippers of XIs for a club that is going through a difficult transition.

The captains themselves took pride in the performance of young players giving their best in defeat.

For Marc, it was David Randall, who used to open the 1st XI batting with Alistair Cook, and Toby Pugh. And for Stuart, it was all four of his young bowlers.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Premier Division
Maldon 1st XI 87 Coggeshall 87-5
(Coggeshall won by 5 wickets)

Skipper Marc Gozzett is passionate about Maldon cricket and is, to quote, "gutted" about recent results.

Against a struggling Coggeshall side on a decent wicket, Maldon were shot out for 87.

"However," said Marc, "let's look at the positives. David Randall scored 32 of the total and took three good slip catches later. We need players like David to come back and commit to the club."

Work and training have taken David away for most of the matches this season.

Marc was also delighted by Toby Pugh's contribution for the second week running. Toby took all five of the Coggeshall wickets, which fell in their struggle to overtake the lowly Maldon total.

"We are waiting for some of our players to return from holiday and for some of our talented youngsters to step up to this level," said Marc.

"I knew this would be a difficult season, but just you watch this club in years to come."

Marshal Hatchick Two Counties Division 6
Mistley 1st XI 245-6 Maldon 2nd XI 187
(Mistley won by 58 runs)

Skipper James Ellis has the same positive approach to defeat.

"We played a good first XI and gave a good account of ourselves," said James.

"We hadn't got the depth today, but some players put in excellent performances in a losing cause."

Dave Richardson took three of the Mistley wickets and continues his excellent form, despite having three catches put down off his bowling.

Mistley posted a challenging 245-6, but for a while, with Daniel Gardiner (42) and James Ellis (44) going well, it looked as if Maldon would chase Mistley down.

"It wasn't to be," said James.

"But let's look at the positives. I had a very young attack and these boys showed real character in the way they bowled.

"Connor Pateman will be a force to be reckoned with in local cricket in years to come."

In the end, Maldon were bowled out for a not discreditable 187.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Division 8
Kelvedon & Feering 3rd XI 260-3 Maldon 4th XI 172
(Kelvedon & Feering won by 88 runs)

It was that man Barnes again, starring for the fourth XI.

Andrew's batting has been the mainstay of the third XI this year but, with that team fixtureless, Andrew helped the fourth XI with bat and ball.

He took 2-16 as Kelvedon piled on the runs against a young Maldon attack to score 260-3, and then, as Maldon replied, Andrew top-scored with 45.

Stuart Coker got 42 and for a while it looked as if Maldon might close down Kelvedon's total. However, when these two were out, only young Karl Walshley (34) made an effective contribution.

"We can take defeat," said skipper Steve Brown, "as long as we show fight and spirit and I was pleased with out youngsters today, especially Karl."

PDQ Cars Premier Division
Witham PDQ Premier XI 202-4 Maldon PDQ 68
(Maldon lost by 134 runs)

"Catches win matches," said skipper Marc Gozzett after this heavy defeat by Witham. "They held theirs and we dropped ours."

There was one good note in Maldon's bowling performance - Dave Richardson with 1-32 surpassed Bob Barnes's record of 850 wickets in his career to become the fourth highest wicket taker for Maldon.

Despite Dave's magnificent spell, Maldon struggled to contain Witham. In reply, only Mark Hawkes (29) coped with the conditions and Witham's attack, which dismissed Maldon for a paltry 68.

PDQ Cars Division C
Maldon Division C XI 103 Clacton 107-4
(Clacton won by 6 wickets)

Maldon were put in on a Draper's Farm wicket enlivened by rain and found Dobson (6-23) in irresistible form.

He was assisted by the Clacton wicket keeper, D Smith, with three terrific catches. Skipper Stuart Coker said: "He is the best keeper I have seen, apart from our first XI's Jimmy Ainscough."

Once Dobson had finished, it looked as if Matt Adams (37), the latest in that talented family, and Lawrence Cook - from another talented family - would give Maldon a decent total.

But Lawrence's run out exposed a very young Maldon tail and the innings ended on 103.

Again a Maldon skipper was optimistic.

"We lost, but our young bowlers were terrific," said Coker.

"Jon Barratt on 1-42 is a real prospect. He will play at a high level for this club. Tom Poole got 19 and opened the batting when Dobson was bowling well. He took 1-14 off five overs and showed great promise.

"Matt Adams competed a good all-round performance, but it was 14 year-old Ross Walpole, who bowled four overs for 13 runs, who really impressed."