FC CLACTON are preparing for a pivotal fixture that could have a major bearing on their season.

That’s the view of manager David Coyle, ahead of Saturday’s Thurlow Nunn League premier division trip to Walsham-le-Willows.

The Seasiders are 14th after last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at home to high-flying Godmanchester Rovers.

However, Saturday’s hosts are one of the sides below them and embroiled in a fight to avoid relegation.

“It’s a really big game and one that will have a major bearing on our season,” said Coyle.

“We don’t want to be involved in a scrap at the bottom and that’s why it’s so important to win.

“At the moment we’re seven points above (third-from-bottom) Walsham.

“If we were to lose, that gap would obviously be cut to four points.

“But if we can win, we’ll put real daylight – ten points – between ourselves and the bottom three.

“Walsham would have to win four games more than us to go above us and that’s a very big ask.

“That’s why it’s such a huge game for us and I’m quite happy to lump pressure on the players.

“The table doesn’t lie and they know the situation.

“They have to deal with that responsibility.

“They and we as a club want to be looking upwards, rather than over our shoulders, and that’s why we have to win games like this.”

Former Seasider Louie Newland, who now plays for Weeley Athletic, who will be in the Clacton squad.

He is helping out as there are no Essex and Suffolk Border League games on Saturday.

n Clacton secured a 2-1 victory against Essex and Suffolk Border League neighbours Weeley, in a mid-season friendly at the Rush Green Bowl on Tuesday. Karl Andrade broke the deadlock from a free-kick, before the visitors netted a penalty to make it all-square at the interval.

Clacton then grabbed their winner in the second half, thanks to a close-range effort from Luke Barnard.