FC CLACTON boss Kieron Shelley believes his players will benefit from their struggles this season.

The Seasiders are second-from-bottom in the Thurlow Nunn League, having lost their last three premier division fixtures and shipped 14 goals.

The most recent of those was Saturday's 4-0 setback at Thetford Town.

But while disappointed to lose, Shelley hopes his players to learn and grow from their experiences - and hopefully emulate Thetford's resurgence.

The Norfolk club escaped relegation last season thanks to a reprieve but now sit seventh.

"Thetford were a very good side and we were second best from start to finish," admitted Shelley.

"We didn't get started but then they didn't allow us to. They didn't give us a second on the ball.

"There was a gulf between the teams, in all departments.

"We looked a bit nervous - like we were waiting to concede - and that's because we're lacking confidence at the moment.

"In terms of the sides we've faced this season, I'd put Thetford right up there with (leaders) Mildenhall.

"I can see them challenging near the top next year, if they keep their squad together, and they certainly appear to have benefitted from their experiences last season.

"They've been through something together and been on a journey.

"They're very fit and well-organised but they're also mates.

"There's a real bond between the players and that was reflected in their performance, because they all worked so hard for each other.

"From our point of view, we're where they were last season - but we hope to be where they are now this time next year."

Clacton will now be looking forward to some home comforts this weekend, when they welcome Saffron Walden Town to the Rush Green Bowl.

They have eight games left - six of which are at home - and Shelley has not given up hope of clambering out of the bottom three and reeling in the likes of Wivenhoe Town and Hadleigh United.

"We've got eight games left and there are some winnable games in there," he said.

"I feel we should target at least a point from Saturday's match against Saffron Walden.

"It's important we start brightly, put last week's defeat behind us and dig our heels in.

"Hopefully then we can finally get over the 20-point barrier, having been stuck on 19.

"It doesn't feel good at the moment and it wasn't nice losing heavily again last week, but that's football.

"We've got a young side and it's a learning curve every week, so we're not going to be too hard on each other.

"Only time will tell if we've left it too late to get out of the bottom three but we certainly won't give up.

"I still feel that with our best players available, we've got the strongest squad of the little pack of clubs at the bottom.

"We have to hope we can build on our experiences and, if we stick together and get a good pre-season under our belts, who's to say we can't be much higher in the table next season?"

Clacton's reserves also suffered a heavy defeat away from home, losing 7-2 at West Bergholt Reserves in the Essex and Suffolk Border League.

Calum Patterson and Lyndon Bramhall were the Seasiders' scorers.