Helping look back at this fixture is the 5s opening batsman that day and highest run scorer Alex Bottoms
'I remember it being a very windy day and we were very bowler heavy, I’m a huge fan of Josh Lamont and Tom Larke, now both 2nd XI bowlers, not even getting a look in. We won the toss and Larkey stuck them in thinking we needed to bowl them out cheap for any chance of a win. '

At halfway the plan was working perfectly after youngsters Joe Tyler, Matt Ashby, Will Bottoms and Nathan Bright ran through the batting lineup. With so much bowling in the side 7 bowlers were used in total to dismiss Benfleet for 101 in 37 overs

In reply Bottoms remembers the talk given by skipper Michael Larke for chasing the runs on a difficult wicket
'We were told to bat time and I opened with Tom Larke who followed his dads advice of batting time by taking a wild swish in the second over and getting cleaned up. I then chipped one to cover and one to mid off who both dropped absolute dollies while I was still in single figures. At this point I thought it might be my day.'

'Lamont played a poor shot, which brought Larke Snr to the crease. He told me to stop batting like a wally and knuckle down and we build a turgid partnership. Another couple of quick wickets and Matt Ashby came in and cracked a quick 20 to take us within 10 runs of victory at 90-4'

Benfleet changed the bowling in a final throw of the dice and 4 Upminster wickets fell for 4 runs.
' I played a typically horrendous shot to chip one to cover for 46 (my favourite way to get out). 3 wickets in 2 overs meant we were 95/8 and you and Matt Peters saw us to the most nervous win chasing 101 I have ever seen.'

The win saw the 5s open a crucial 8 point gap above Basildon 3s who they faced in the final game of the season and the 5s drew surviving by a solitary point

(Scorecard | League Table)