COLCHESTER and East Essex’s first XI will go in search of their opening Shepherd Neame Essex League win of the season tomorrow.

But in order to rack up their maiden premier division victory, they will have to shake off their Buckhurst Hill hoodoo.

Colchester were beaten both home and away by the Roding Lane-based side, last season.

And they also failed to beat them in the 2014 season, when they were defeated twice in their division one promotion season.

Both teams are still looking for their first win of the season, with Colchester having suffered defeat to Chelmsford and Hornchurch so far.

Colchester captain Andrew Kennedy said: “Buckhurst Hill have lost their first two games like us but they only narrowly lost to Brentwood, last weekend.

“They’re a bit of a bogey side for us – we lost to them twice this year and the same thing happened the year before, when we were promoted from division one.

“We were obviously a bit disappointed to lose the Hornchurch game last weekend but we know that we’re a decent side.

“If I’m honest, we haven’t been able to play our strongest side yet.

“We have a stronger squad than last year but we haven’t been able to put it out yet and that’s no disrespect to the guys who have been playing.”

Former Colchester captain Joe Barnett is expected to return at Buckhurst Hill but bowler Greg Stephens is unavailable.

Ollie Bocking, Harry Bush and Sam Foster remain unavailable due to their university commitments.

It is a busy weekend for Colchester, who begin their Essex Twenty20 campaign on Sunday when they travel to take on Hadleigh.

Each team plays four games in a group of five in the competition, before two sides progress to the quarter-finals.

Colchester won the Essex competition last year, progressing to the national stages.

Colchester’s second team play host to Buckhurst Hill II in the second XI premier division tomorrow, at Castle Park (1pm start).

The club’s third team host Harold Wood, in third XI division one.

Colchester opener Jack Hebron hit an unbeaten 53 for the Premier Leagues XI in their narrow three-run T20 defeat against Essex Eagles, at Chelmsford.

The match saw representatives from both the East Anglian Premier League and the Shepherd Neame Essex League join forces to take on the Eagles, in aid of The Essex Cricket Foundation.