A century from captain Joe Holland was not enough to prevent Saffron Walden slipping to a defeat at home to bottom club Colchester and East Essex on Saturday in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division. Walden were looking to build on last weekend

A century from captain Joe Holland was not enough to prevent Saffron Walden slipping to a defeat at home to bottom club Colchester and East Essex on Saturday in the Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division.

Walden were looking to build on last weekend's first win of the season, but were heavily beaten by 108 runs against the strugglers.

"The defeat really took the shine off my 100," said captain Holland. "I'd rather get no runs and the team win every week.

"I'm really disappointed because Colchester have just came up and are bottom of the league. We were weak in the bowling department and that has been a problem for us all year. We had no spine in the batting and the bowlers are lacking in penetration."

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first and they got off to a good start with T Russell making 41 and fellow opener C McQueen hitting 29.

M Austin came in and was the visitors' top scorer with 53. All batsmen were posting decent totals with S Maggs scoring 48 and T George 42.

Walden's bowlers were having a tough time and G DeSilva (50) and K Kennedy (43 no) helped Colchester post a competitive total of 329-9 in 66 overs.

Walden got off to a disappointing start in reply losing Ryan Sparrow for nine, but Tom Westley (21) and Craig George (18) pushed the score on.

The star of the innings was Holland who came to the crease and made 101. However, not all batsmen were on form and only Morgan (14) and Simon Parmenter (23) gave him any real support as Walden were all out for 221, well short of the required target.

- Saffron Walden got back to winning ways on Sunday, defeating Wimbledon in the Evening Standard Cricket Trophy Round Two.

Walden won the toss and put Wimbledon into bat and the hosts got off to a poor start losing Morhead for 10, Leaves for two and Kuiller for a duck.

A Drummond came in and steadied the ship posting 27 and Liddell pushed the score on further making 24.

J Riley made 11 and M Shimmin 26 not out, but they were let down by the lower order as Wimbledon were skittled out for 122.

Opener Ryan Sparrow who made 140 last Sunday could not repeat that feat and disappointingly lost his wicket for just five runs.

However, Ray Mordini (38 no), Holland (14) and Jack Ford (52 no), eased Walden to victory as they reached the required total for the loss of just three wickets.

"I was really pleased with the win and the more experienced guys showed their worth," said the skipper.

"We fielded and bowled well and were back to the usual Walden way of being lively in the field and putting teams under pressure."

On Saturday Walden visit joint table toppers Brentwood.

"It will be a tough game as they have a strong batting line up, but we have to build on the confidence gained on the back of the Wimbledon form," said the captain.

"Adrian McCoubrey and Joe Barrs are back so we will have more in our bowling attack.

"We are a young side on a Saturday, but all are good players and it's only a mater of time before things come together.