IPSWICH and East Suffolk batsman Rob Glassford labelled his side's ten-wicket thrashing by Mistley as 'a pretty poor effort', but believes his side can fight back.

IPSWICH and East Suffolk batsman Rob Glassford labelled his side's ten-wicket thrashing by Mistley as 'a pretty poor effort', but believes his side can fight back.

Having been crowned Division One champions in 2005 before finishing third last season, IES have endured a torrid start to 2007, with three defeats putting them second from bottom.

Saturday saw IES slump to their worst defeat of the season as they slumped to a miserly total of 107 at home against Mistley, with their visitors successfully chasing this target without losing a wicket.

Glassford said: “It was a pretty poor effort, but it was just one of those games and we are going to have to put it out of our minds.

“We probably mis-read our wicket and a couple of good balls and a couple of sloppy shots later we were out - but there's nothing we can do about that now.

“Just to show how much we mis-read the wicket, it then really flattened out and runs came really easily when they batted.”

Although this result is another blow to the side, Glassford is confident the team will bounce back.

He said: “We had a great win at Mildenhall where we did the basics right, just as we have done in the last two or three years.

“We know what we are trying to do and we know we can do it, that's the frustrating thing, but we will fight back.

“We could worry about the bigger picture and whether we are going up or down or whatever, but we have got to do it ball by ball now.”

In contrast to IES's fall from grace, Ipswich's other Division One side, Copdock and Old Ipswichians, are enjoying a meteoric rise this season.

Promoted as champions of Division Two last season, they have continued the winning habit and now find themselves second in Division One.

On Saturday, Copdock and OIs recorded their third win of the season so far, beating Maldon by 21 runs.

With the weather reducing the match to 40 overs per side, Copdock scored freely with the bat before a late collapse saw them finish 173 all out.

In reply, Maldon, despite losing an early wicket, looked to be cruising to victory as they needed 80 runs from 19 overs with eight wickets still in tact.

However, James East removed both established batsmen before an explosive spell of five for eight from Bardo Fransman saw him shoot out the tail 21 runs short of their target.

Elsewhere in Division One, last year's champions Halstead remain top after they heaped more misery on Mildenhall, victory coming by 103 runs.

Brightlingsea are the side keeping IES off the bottom, their latest defeat coming at Coggeshall by eight wickets.