FC CLACTON’S Kevin Coyle is closing in on a goalscoring record for his hometown club.

Heading into last night’s League Cup tie at home to Coggeshall Town, he was on 99 goals for the Seasiders.

That tally includes 95 for FC Clacton and four for the club’s previous incarnation, Clacton Town.

He therefore has a magical century in his sights and would also love to eclipse the FC Clacton record of 103 goals, set by current Brightlingsea Regent front man Aaron Condon.

“Not many people have scored more goals for the club, so I’m proud of my record,” said Coyle, who added two more to his total in Saturday’s 4-3 victory at Haverhill Borough.

“I didn’t even know I was closing in on the 100-goal milestone until it went on Twitter on Sunday night.

“I’d like to get to 100 FC Clacton goals before the end of the season and of course I’ve got my eye on Aaron’s record.

“That would be a real honour but even though I scored the two penalties at the weekend, I’d love to score from open play again.

“Hopefully then the goals will start flying in.”

Coyle makes no secret of the fact his confidence levels have been low, since returning to the club from Brightlingsea.

Saturday’s goals were his first for over a month and only his second and third since moving back to the Rush Green Bowl.

Now, after scoring a brace, he hopes to go from strength to strength.

“That’s what I’m hoping because when you go a long time without scoring, you start to question yourself,” he said.

“It chips away at you and you start doing things differently.

“I’m known for getting on the ball, running with it, cutting in and scoring and that’s how I’ve enjoyed a fair bit of success down the years.

“If I can score another goal like that – sooner rather than later – then hopefully all my confidence issues will be forgotten.

“I was brought in to score goals, even though I’m not an out-and-out striker, and that brings an added pressure.

“But I know it will come and that I can go on a run, when that first goal from open play comes along.”

Clacton won 4-3 in a crazy Thurlow Nunn League premier division contest at Haverhill on Saturday.

They were three-up at the break thanks to Coyle’s penalties and a strike from Harry McDonald.

Billy Wales was then sent off two minutes into the second half for a high tackle.

Haverhill pulled one back but Terry Rymer extended Clacton’s lead midway through the second half. The hosts then scored twice more to set up a nervy finale.

“We gave some sloppy goals away but the wind made a big difference,” added Coyle.

“We had in our favour in the first half but had to play against it in the second.

“We definitely made life hard for ourselves, though.”

“Billy’s sending off was a bit of a turning point and we were all over the place for a bit, at the start of the second half.

“Terry scored to extend our lead but even we didn’t settle and they kept pumping long balls into our box.

“Haverhill had the wind behind them and it was a bit of an aerial bombardment, which we struggled to cope with.

“They scored a couple more and it was a nervous end, but at least we held on and got the points.”