FC CLACTON assistant boss Mark White says his side must be switched on defensively in Saturday’s FA Cup showdown against Aveley.

The Seasiders have made a bright start to the Thurlow Nunn League season and are now unbeaten in their opening four matches, following Tuesday’s excellent victory against Long Melford.

Aaron Condon’s cool penalty and a headed goal from Ben Parkin gave them a 2-0 win.

White was delighted to see his side register their second clean sheet of the season.

However, he was disappointed by the nature of the equaliser conceded in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Walsham-le-Willows.

And he says his players must be at their defensive best, heading into this weekend’s preliminary round showdown at the Rush Green Bowl.

“Aveley are normally a top-half side in the league above, so we know we’ll have to defend better than we did last weekend,” said White, who works alongside first-team boss David Coyle.

“If we present them with opportunities like that, they’ll definitely bury them and punish us.

“To become a good side, we have to cut out those errors.

“Teams should have to work hard for goals they score against us, but we handed it on a plate to Walsham.

“The goal we conceded was really poor, on our part.

“The long ball forward should have been dealt with and then to let their striker take it down on his chest and lift it over our keeper was terrible.

“It’s definitely something we need to look at, but we’re still unbeaten in six (four in the league, two in cup competitions).

“There are definitely positives.

“The conditions were tricky because of the heat but I thought we did OK on Saturday.

“We tried to pass the ball and kept them pinned back in their half.

“I thought we were the better side.”

Saturday’s match is the last of three in a row at the Bowl.

And White hopes his side can make home advantage count in the cup.

“Not too many teams like coming here,” he said.

“We want it to be a hard place to come and don’t want it to be a good experience.

“Aveley will be expected to come here and win, but we’ll give it our best shot and it would be great to win.”