Ilford captain Nigel Jacobs has pin-pointed Alan Ison as Upminster’s danger man ahead of their clash this weekend.

Jacobs’ men will welcome Upminster to Valentines Park on Saturday as they look to build on their current unbeaten run in Hamro Foundation Essex League Division One.

But the skipper knows they have to be wary of Ison who he believes is the best player in the league alongside Ilford batsmen Akhil Anil.

“They’ve got a good team, but they’ve got one really good player in Al, and I think that first game was a good wake-up call for us," said Jacobs.

"We didn’t have the right balance in the team but since then we’ve changed the team make-up and been very competitive in every game.

“I do say it every week that we don’t need to focus on the opposition, but I think it would be stupid not to focus on someone like him, as he is obviously a very dangerous player.

“Along with Akhil Anil he’s probably the best player in the league so we need to stop him and of course stop all of their team.

“We haven’t lost in five weeks, so we’ve got good momentum, and at the halfway point we’re mid-table but if we can continue our current form then we could be in the promotion places."

Ilford Recorder: Ilford players celebrate taking the wicket of Umar Choudhry during Ilford CC (fielding) vs Loughton CC, Hamro Foundation Essex League Cricket at Valentines Park on 3rd July 2021Ilford players celebrate taking the wicket of Umar Choudhry during Ilford CC (fielding) vs Loughton CC, Hamro Foundation Essex League Cricket at Valentines Park on 3rd July 2021 (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

It was a draw with Loughton last time out after winning the toss and electing to field first as their opponents scored 161-7 before declaring with Prahathen Jayarooban (3-44) and Chetan Gorthy (3-43) both shining with the ball.

In reply, Ilford managed to score 107-5 following a revised target but could only nab a draw with Mohammad Ahktar (36) top scoring.

“Unfortunately the rain had a part to play, I think there has been three or four games now where we’ve had reduced overs, and the forecast doesn’t look great again for Saturday," added Jacobs.

“When you’ve got a 49-over game it becomes very difficult to get a result. Loughton batted well and 160 was a good total.

“I think we bowled pretty well, but we were looking at 140 to keep them to, but we were always going for the win when we set off.

“Mo batted very positively at the beginning, even when he got out we had that confidence from the previous game when we chased down Woodford Wells for 230, we were going for it but then we lost three quick wickets.

“We lost Akash, Usman and myself and when I got out we then kind of shut up shop. We were happy with the draw and eight points isn’t the worse outcome.”