Saffron Walden suffered their first setback in this season’s East Anglian Premier Division, a five-wicket loss to Copdock and Old Ipswichian, despite a century from in-form batsman Matt Gouldstone.

Jed Cawkwell was the catalyst for Copdock’s victory. The right-hander hit 16 fours in an unbeaten stand of 102 as the hosts chased down Walden’s 221, with Gouldstone scoring the majority of the runs.

The result saw Walden slip to second in the league behind Cambridge Granta.

Walden’s top order misfired for the third game running after James East put them into bat. The top four batsmen have struggled for runs so far this season, recording 65 at Norwich, 61 against Woolpit and 41 on Saturday.

Luckily for captain Joe Barrs, he has been able to rely on Gouldstone. The right-hander threatened to score a century in the season opener, ending unbeaten on 87, and carried his bat for 29 to see Walden over the line against Woolpit.

Saturday was his best outing yet.

Coming in at 40-3, and losing Andrew Wright with one extra run on the board, Gouldstone propelled Walden to a competitive score despite wickets falling around him.

Partnerships of 49, 89 and 40 with Jack Sneath (14), Andrew Gale (33) and Barrs (15) respectively gave Walden a glimmer of hope.

The tail end wasn’t able to aid his cause as Tom Rash took four wickets in four balls, including Gouldstone, to end the innings on 221.

Two wickets in four overs – Andrew Pledger trapped Martyn Cull LBW and Cameron Taylor ran out Chris Swallow – had Copdock in trouble at 19-2.

Cody Chetty (13) and Tom Rash (16) came and went without causing too much trouble but it was the fifth-wicket pairing of Cawkwell and Hugh Thomas (63*) that won the game.

In a 94-minute stand, the duo scored 129 runs to surpass Walden’s total and hand them their first loss of the season.