FC CLACTON manager Tom Austin believes his side must go for glory at Framlingham Town on Saturday.

The Seasiders dipped to 17th in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division after the postponement of last week’s home match against Gorleston.

Framlingham are second from bottom, six points behind but having played four games more, so there is plenty at stake at Badingham Road.

“Although I feel we’re in a false position, we have to look over our shoulders,” said Austin.

“Framlingham are only six points behind, albeit that they’ve played 18 games and we’ve only played 14.

“I’m not one for putting pressure on the players but I really feel we need three points.

“That could take us up three or four places.

“It’s a very tight league and there aren’t any whipping boys, as there has been in previous years.

“It’s a high standard and while we haven’t been as consistent as we’d like in recent weeks, that needs to change.

“Let’s try and get back on a winning run and have a positive Christmas.

“We’ve got games in hand but have to start putting points on the board because after this weekend we’ve got tough games against Histon, Brantham and Wroxham.

“They’re all sides in the top six or seven.

“At one point we were sixth or seventh and now we’re down in 17th.

“That’s because we haven’t got the results we should have done in previous games.

“I feel we’ve played well in those matches but haven’t won them, which is frustrating. Sometimes I’ve been left scratching my head."

Saturday’s home game against Gorleston was called off because of a waterlogged pitch at the Rush Green Bowl.

As a consequence, Austin arranged a friendly against Tendring neighbours Brightlingsea Regent Reserves on Tuesday night.

The Seasiders ran out 8-1 winners and there was a hat-trick for Lewis Blanchett.

“It was a very worthwhile exercise and we got more out of it than we would a normal training session,” added the Clacton boss.

“It gave me the chance to look at a few different players in different positions and the squad’s looking strong.

“It was nice to play some football after ten days without a game and the last thing we wanted was to be rusty going into a very important game on Saturday.”