IT was another afternoon of frustration for Leigh-on-Sea as they were unable to claim a final Wickford wicket and secure their first win of the season.

Having made 197, Leigh had their opponents nine men down with 10 overs remaining but couldn’t claim that vital last wicket.

Chirag Desai’s 32 and Reece Pinchback’s solid defence ensured Wickford took six points away from the encounter.

And Leigh captain Dean Waller said his side should have gone on to take victory, although was full of praise for his bowlers including 15-year-old Matthew Curtis.

“We just couldn't get the last wicket," said Waller. "They all bowled so well and they had eight overs to get the last guy who faced quite a few balls but we just couldn't get him.

"It is just the way things are going at the moment. We are picking up points and we are ticking over. We know we can do it but we need to get across the finish line. Matthew Curtis is 15 and he came in and did very well. He is looking very good and feels part of it."

Waller won the toss and elected to bat but they didn’t have the best start, with Iain McDonald out for two, Jon Edwards 15 and Harry Slack nine.

Waller steadied the innings with a quick-fire 34, with Billy King (31) hitting seven boundaries at the crease alongside him.

However, at 120-7 the Leigh innings was halting and needed inspiration. Paddy Groves came in at nine and hit a crucial 39, including two sixes, as Leigh ended up all out for 197.

Pinchback took 2-21 in 4.5 overs, with Desai also taking a brace of wickets and Dan Pryke taking 3-43 in 12 overs.

Daniel Rouse’s 45, David Cole’s 31 and Desai’s 32 were the only scores of note for the visitors who also remain in the hunt for their first win of term and now prop up the table.

Matthew Curtis and Daniel Cocking each took three wickets, with the former excelling with 3-21 in just seven overs, with two maidens.

Old Southendian & Southchurch lost their second match in a row and their first at Garon Park as Gidea Park & Romford won by four wickets.

The Old Boys won the toss and impressed early on, with Matt Wilson (48) and captain Aaron Lucas (51) steering the hosts from 71-3 to 169-4 before both departed in quick succession.

Matthew Austin’s late 26 took Lucas’ men to 217-8 in their 50 overs and had Gidea Park 8-2 in their innings to see the pendulum swing their way.

But Russ Collard (54) and Jamal Francis (84) put Gidea Park in charge and they went on to surpass the total in 43 overs.

David Johnson (3-37) was the pick of the Old Southendian bowlers.

Rain interrupted Horndon-on-the-Hill’s encounter with Harlow Town, with Horndon failing to make the most of some promising situations in their innings.

Shiraz Ali (31), Ashley Alderson (38) and Patrick Yates (36) all got in but failed to push on as Horndon ended on 189-8.

And they, much like Leigh-on-Sea, were unable to claim that elusive final wicket after Harlow were reduced to 161-9.

Chris Powell (4-26 off 14 overs) was the star bowler with a brace of wickets for Dan Farmer and Mohammed Ali.