MICHAEL Comber admitted it was a huge relief to end his long wait for a century.

The Frinton Cricket Club all-rounder made an unbeaten 104 – including nine fours and five sixes – as the Ashlyns Road side stunned unbeaten Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League leaders Sudbury by six wickets on Saturday.

It was his first hundred since the opening day of last season, for Bury St Edmunds.

And his wait for a three-figure score also included a winter season spent playing in Australia.

Comber admitted feeling great to get the monkey off his back – especially in such an important, eye-catching victory.

“It’s always nice to enjoy personal success and the century was a long time coming,” said the former Clacton Cricket Club player, who will be hoping for another victory at Swardeston tomorrow.

“To get the monkey off my back is such a relief and very pleasing, because it’s been bothering me for a while.

“I can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with nerves in the 90s.

“However, I’ve got close to three figures a few times and found it playing on my mind. I was also on 99 for a while on Saturday, so it was a brilliant feeling to finally get over the line and then, a few balls later, to be celebrating victory.

“Had I not got the century, it would have been hard for me and would have become a bit of a mental issue.

“Now, thankfully, I’ve nipped it in the bud and hopefully I can carry on where I left off at the weekend.”

Sudbury batted first and it was Comber who took the key wicket of skipper Tom Huggins, caught by Frinton counterpart Kyran Young.

He also produced a caught and bowled to get rid of Darren Batch.

Mervyn Westfield took three wickets for 46 runs in his 16 overs as the Suffolk side finished on 232 for eight, in 64 overs.

Frinton openers Michael Griggs and Joe Fowler both went cheaply but the hosts powered to victory thanks to Comber’s heroics, allied to 86 from the in-form Young.

“It was a very good team performance, especially after a pretty severe defeat at Mildenhall,” added Comber.

“We didn’t expect to lose that game but to bounce back as we did was brilliant and so pleasing.”

“I feel it makes a bit of a statement and it also shows the strength of the league, in that every team can beat each other.

“That always used to the case but then it took a bit of a dip.

“Now the standard of the league is so high again and every side we play has their own strengths and threats. It’s great to be a part of.

“I loved my time at Bury but am so happy here at Frinton.

“It’s a great club. The ground is beautiful and the people are fantastic.

“Everyone wants to see you succeed and it’s a very nice, positive environment to play cricket.”

Medium-pace bowler Comber is well-known on the Tendring cricket scene, having risen through the ranks at Clacton before going on to play for Essex, prior to being released at the end of the 2012 season.

He still lives in Vista Road and says it is great to see the current Seasiders team doing well in division two of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship.

“I grew up in Clacton so always look out for their results and want them to do well,” said Comber.

“I know (captain) Ryan Chamberlain and, ironically, played with and against Haydn Erfurth in Oz. I couldn’t believe it when he text to say he was signing for my hometown club.”