After promotion from Division 2 in 2017 it was always going to be a tough season for the 4th XI. Playing in a league with 3rd XIs from clubs such as Hutton, Shenfield and Loughton was never going to be easy, and with a number of players having moved up to higher sides and availability mixed throughout the season things were made even harder. However, after a tough start to the season the side grew in confidence, not only escaping the drop on the last day of the season but climbing high enough to equal the 4th XI's highest ever league finish.

The season did not start well with a defeat in a rain affected contest at Old Southendians. Only Ant Limn made an impression with the bat as Upminster crawled to 94-9 from 34 overs (which actually earned them two batting points), and although Kevin Roome picked up three wickets in reply Southendians scrambled to a four wicket win. A week later and an improved performance with the bat looked for a while like it would bring a victory over Wanstead and Snaresbrook. Stewart Hammond made an excellent 52, and a number of other double figure contributions meant Upminster reached 171-8. Jamie Squance and Ollie Woods then reduced Wanstead to 106-7 in reply but Hamza Shoaib and captain Giri Rathakrishnan rode their luck and steered their side to a four wicket win.

It was a similar situation against Wickford in week 3 as Upminster scrambled to 132 thanks to Jake Eade, Will Frost and Sam Twine, and then Wickford collapsed to 78-6 against the experienced Upminster attack of Rob Bannister, Kevin Roome and Michael Jones. George Bailey and Sam Spooner foughtback though and Wickford scraped to a three wicket win. June began with a visit to high flying Hutton and 90 from Henry Hodgson helped the home side to reach 253-7 despite four wickets from the excellent Ryan Brown. Stewart Hammond made 57 and received excellent support from Ian Munn, and although the visitors never looked like winning they did stop the rot and held out for the draw at 158-5. There was another draw a week later at Coopers as Loughton were denied victory. Kevin Roome and Michael Jones bowled well to put Upminster into a good position, but a crucial last wicket stand led Loughton 199-9. Stewart Hammond continued his excellent form with 41 in the Upminster reply, and with help from Will Frost and Mark Hortop Upminster closed on 152-7.

Despite five games without a win performances were improving and that theme continued at Billericay. The first six batsmen all made double figures as Upminster, led for the first time this season by Stewart Hammond, made 178-9. Will Frost picked up two wickets and Upminster looked set for their first win, only for a similar tale to repeat itself as number seven Greg Hammond made an unbeaten half century to help his side to a two wicket win. Upminster could be forgiven for thinking it was not going to be their season when an almost identical game took place a week later, against Chelmsford at Coopers. Trey Collinge made an excellent 61 not out as the home side reached 172-8 and Will Frost, Kevin Roome and Roham Mayor then put Upminster in charge. However, once again the side could not get over the line as an unbeaten 61 from Matt Cole meant Chelmsford won by two wickets.

While most games to this point had been closely fought, that wasn't the case at Shenfield 3s as Upminster were soundly beaten. Paul Middlemiss made 49 and Ben Calder 31 as Upminster made 183-8 but that never looked like being enough and Ryan Carey made 98 not out as Shenfield coasted to an eight wicket win. World Cup Quarter Final day finally bought a change of look and that illusive first win of the season!! Stewart Hammond, who had officially taken over as captain before the game, made another half century and with contributions from Nathan Brown, Will Frost, Ben Calder and Mark Hortop Upminster were able to post their highest total of the season as they made 238-7. South made a good start to their reply but three wickets from Kevin Roome saw the visitors dismissed for 147 and give the 4th XI their first win of the season!!!

A week later it looked like Hammond's men would make it two wins in two but somehow Old Southendians went away with the points. Rob Banninster and Ryan Brown were in the wickets as the Old Boys made 218 but the captain and Trey Collinge hit half centuries in the Upminster innings and Bannister and Paul Stratton then looked like they were steering the side to victory, but a late collapse saw them bowled out for 207. Wanstead proved to strong the following week and won with something to spare despite three wickets from Max Gordon and runs from Matt McCarthy, but a week later at Wickford Hammond's side picked up their second win of the season. Hammond was in the runs again and with help from Rob Mack, Ian Munn and youngster Ellis Pickering the strugglers posted 200-7. Pickering completed an excellent all round afternoon with three wickets in the Wickford reply, and with Rohan Mayor and Max Gordon claiming two victims each Wickford were bowled out for 189 to give Upminster an 11 run win.

August looked for a while like it would begin with a win, but despite 45 from skipper Hammond it was Hutton who won by 12 runs, and a week later despite four wickets from Ellis Pickering and 41 from Will Frost Loughton proved to strong and picked up a 76 run victory. With four games to go things were not looking good for Upminster but they produced an inspired performance against Billericay to keep their survival hopes alive. Ian Munn and Michael Jones top scored with 21 each, but Upminster's total of 133-9 looked a little under par. However, a superb bowling display from Scott Fisher, Ryan Brown, Jones and Kevin Roome saw Ricay bowled out for 79 to give Upminster a crucial win. That win saw Hammond's side move out of the bottom two for the first time since May, but defeats against Chelmsford and Shenfield meant they were back in the bottom two going into the last day of the season.

Upminster travelled to bottom of the pile South Woodford knowing they needed to win and hope that Wickford and Old Southendians did not pick up many points in their games. Upminster were asked to bat first by South Woodford and Ian Munn and the captain got them off to a good start. Rob Mack and Sam Twine then upped the rate and both made half centuries before Upminster declared on 224-2. Rohan Mayor, Ryan Brown and Ellis Pickering then did the job with the ball to roll out South for 144 and give Upminster maximum points. A long evening then ensued while everyone waited for results from elsewhere before it filtered through that Wickford and Old Southendians had lost and not gained many points meaning Upminster climbed to seventh place, with Wickford being relegated along with South Woodford.

It was an excellent second half of the season for the side and a great effort to end up seventh in the table. Enormous credit must go to Stewart Hammond, not just for the weight of runs he scored (over 400 in the league) but also for taking over the captaincy during the season an steering the side to safety. He had excellent support from other senior players such as Kevin Roome (who played all 18 games) and Ian Munn. Along with these experienced campaigners there were some excellent performances from youngsters such as Will Frost, Sam Twine, Ryan Brown, Max Gordon, Ben Calder, Ellis Pickering and Jamie Squance. All of these players improved as the season went on and will come back stronger in 2019.