FC CLACTON defender Lee Clowsley admits the stakes are high heading into this weekend's FA Vase showdown at Buckingham Athletic.

The Seasiders could pocket £825 if they win, in addition to the £725 they have already banked from eliminating Hoddesdon Town in the second qualifying round on September 15.

It would continue what has generally been a positive start to the season for Tom Austin's side, despite the disappointment of losing 4-3 at Godmanchester Rovers on Saturday.

And Clowsley admits he and his team-mates have plenty of motivation as they strive to make further progress.

“It’s going to be a big occasion and we’d love to stay in the competition, because it’s been a few years since we had a Vase run at Clacton," he told the Gazette.

“With a bit of luck, we can get the right result.

“It’s an exciting prospect and there’s a big incentive from a club point of view, because of the prize money at stake.

“For any non-league club at any level, that can only be helpful and it gives us extra motivation.

“The stakes are high.

“We want to do better in the league than last season and we’ve set ourselves targets, but we’d also love a cup run.

“That would be great because all players want to do well in cups and win trophies.

“It’s an opportunity for us to keep going, keep progressing and see where it takes us.

“The FA Cup is great for the prize money but there’s also something special about the Vase.

“You’re playing teams from the same level, if not lower, and so you know you’ve always got a chance.

“It’s a completely different mentality.”

Buckingham play in Spartan South Midlands League division one - step six of the non-league pyramid - and represent something of an unknown quantity for the Seasiders.

Clowlsey says that can be both a blessing and curse but says it adds to the magic, playing different opposition from a different league.

“The preparation is completely different," he said, ahead of the first-round proper tie at Buckingham's Stratford Fields ground.

“Ahead of a league game, we know what we’re up against.

"We know their opposition and players.

“We set out to nullify their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.

“With a team we don’t know much about, it becomes a more level playing field.

“We know little about them and they won’t know much about us.

“It comes down to who wants it more, and which team has the most quality, during the 90 minutes.

“But it puts the emphasis on us, rather than the opposition, to make sure we do what we need to do to get the result."