WOODFORD WELLS can certainly say they belong amongst the county’s elite after a magnificent return to Essex’s top table this season.

The Monkhams Lane club have won seven games this year, their latest a convincing 43-run victory over Gidea Park & Romford, after winning promotion from Division One last term.

Wells were relegated from the Premier Division two seasons ago, but since then they have set about restoring their reputation as one of the strongest sides in Essex.

They now sit second with just one game to play and can even claim to be the number one local team, boasting a six point lead over last year’s champions Wanstead.

Their confidence was evident for all to see this week, as opener Robert Marshall set the tone with a brilliant knock of 84, before the dependable bowling attack of Tom Kopelman and Andrew Richardson set about dismantling the hosts’ order.

Elsewhere, South Woodford gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with an emphatic 75 run win over Hainault & Clayhall. Joe Craddock (77) and Nick Browne (88) led the charge in the Highfield Road club’s innings, propelling them to a daunting total of 293-5. The bowling trio of Simon Correya, Salim Akbar and Harry Shirt then took centre stage, taking two wickets apiece and successfully stifling the hosts’ batsmen.

South Woodford now have a 14 point cushion over ninth-placed Gidea Park & Romford ahead of the final round of fixtures.

Meanwhile, Wanstead cantered to a seven wicket victory over Upminster as they look to end the season on a high and secure a top two finish.

Rehan Hassan and Mohammed Fayyaz Khan claimed four wickets each as the Herons blitzed the visitors’ batsmen out for 138 before knocking off the runs.

In Division One, Chingford trounced promotion rivals Loughton in their penultimate game of the season to move into contention for a top two place and an immediate return to the top division.

Half centuries from captain Sam Kirnon and youngster Alfie Taylor helped Chingford past the 250 run mark, but it was bowler Lenny Daniels who made the decisive contribution.

Rizwan Qureshi’s five wickets had helped stem the flow of runs for Loughton, but Daniels ripped through the home side’s top order to leave them teetering on the brink of defeat, and they eventually succumbed for just 146.

Fives’ batsmen failed miserably with the bat but the bowlers almost turned it around, as they claimed nine wickets, only for Hutton to sneak home.

Walthamstow will head into the final game of the season with a great chance of survival after dismantling fellow relegation candidates Harold Wood at the weekend.

Harlow were defeated by Hadleigh & Thundersley, while Buckhurst Hill beat Billericay.

In Division Three, West Essex narrowly overcame local rivals Old Parkonians, while Ongar defeated Epping.

There was also a win for Woodford Green over Stanford Le Hope.