HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL lost just their second match of the season as they were beaten by previously winless Leigh-on-Sea.

Jeff West’s team had made a fairly promising start to the Shepherd Neame Division Two season but failed to get over the line against an improving Leigh side.

In their first five games of the season and faced a side who had lost just one of their first five but they impressed against the Thurrock outfit.

Horndon won the toss and elected to bat first but they didn’t get off to the best start as Mike Canavon went for one after three balls, trapped LBW by Dan Cocking.

But Tom Stone (40) and Damien Sweet (30) took Essex to 86 before the former was dismissed.

The rest of the order failed to score meaningfully, with Jack Walsh (20) and Jack Marson (17 not out) the best of the rest as Horndon were bowled out in 35.5 overs.

Paddy Groves (3-33), Matthew Curtis (3-34) and Alex Camp (3-47) were the pick of the bowlers for Leigh.

Leigh were set a revised target of 159 as rain began to fall and they started well before Iain McDonald’s quick-fire 23 off 18 balls was brought to an end.

Fellow-opener Jon Edwards batted through the innings, ending on 55 not out, with Dean Waller (37) the other main contributor including two massive sixes.

Leigh reached the target with 17 overs to spare and win by six wickets.