FC CLACTON are keeping their fingers crossed for dry weather as they prepare for only their fifth league game since October.

Heavy rain washed out last weekend’s Thurlow Nunn League premier division clash at home to Mildenhall Town.

The postponement was a blow for boss David Coyle, whose side have only played four league games - and just one at home - since he returned as manager in October.

The Seasiders are itching to get back in action and hope to resume their campaign in Saturday’s trip to reigning league champions Hadleigh United.

Coyle says that despite his side’s inactivity, there is no chance of him using rustiness as an excuse.

“We’ve barely played in eight or nine weeks and Hadleigh had a game on Saturday,” said the Seasiders.

“I dare say there may be a bit of rustiness on our part but there’s no way I’d make a big thing of it.

“The minute we start going on about it, we’re handing out an excuse.

“The fact is that we’ve got 16 or 17 players more than capable of starting against Hadleigh.

“And if any of them don’t feel they’re up to scratch, they’ve only got to ring me and tell me - and I’ll put them on the bench.

“Inevitably, there will be some disappointed players because five of them will have to be substitutes.

“But we’re going to need them all between now and the end of the season.

“These postponed games still have to be played, so in a few weeks it’ll be a case of having fixtures every Saturday and Tuesday.”