FC CLACTON boss David Coyle says beating Eton Manor and making progress in this season’s FA Cup is crucial to the club.

The Seasiders have started the Thurlow Nunn League premier division well, claiming four points from a possible six.

However, their thoughts are now firmly on the cup and their extra preliminary round tie against the Braves, on Saturday.

The winners of the tie at the Rush Green Bowl will receive £1,500 in prize money – and boss Coyle knows how crucial that can be for the club.

Coyle said: “For the long-term future of the football club, these are the important games.

“If we can get through two rounds of the FA Cup, it puts the club into a great position for at least half of the season.

“It cannot be lost on anyone how important getting a result is and this is the kind of game the owners really want us to win.

“There’s good prize money up for grabs if we win and going into it on the back of a win might be the best time.

“Any time the players go onto the pitch they play to win and be the best team on the day, regardless of the competition.

“I’ve seen Eton Manor’s results and they beat a couple of sides from our league last year.

“They play at a similar level to ours and our job is to play as well as we can and try and win the game.”

FC Clacton followed up their 2-2 opening-day draw at newly-promoted Swaffham Town with an impressive 1-0 win at Brantham Athletic, on Tuesday night.

Aaron Condon bagged a late winner for the Seasiders at Brantham Leisure Centre, in an entertaining premier division contest.

“It was a very good game - there were a lot of talented players on show who wanted to do well,” said Coyle.

“The fact that we won was great, because we did it playing good football.

“And if our games are exciting, hopefully we can get more people coming to watch us.

“Brantham did try and play too and are a really good side.

“They’ll cause problems to anyone this season but we deserved to win.”

FC Clacton will go into the Eton Manor clash without key defender Chris Ribchester, who is unavailable.

But last season’s player of the year Wayne Chapman is likely to return from a groin injury.