FC CLACTON defender Lee Clowsley believes he is reaping the rewards from an injury-free season.

The centre-half has been one of the club’s most consistent performers during an encouraging first half of the Thurlow Nunn League campaign.

Although the Seasiders lost 2-0 at Wroxham on Saturday, they are sitting 16th in the premier division table with more than double the points tally of third-from-bottom Fakenham Town.

Barring a disastrous run-in, it looks like they will finish well clear of the relegation dogfight.

Clowsley has been key to their success and said: “I’ve been injury-free and I’m enjoying my football.

“In the last two or three years I’ve always picked up knocks and never been 100%.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to wear the armband recently and that’s something else I love.

“But I’m just happy to be playing and if I’m playing and we’re winning, it’s a perfect Saturday.

“We’re all enjoying it and I think that’s evident from the fact seven-day approaches are coming in from other clubs and yet the boys want to stay.

“We all feel the same way.

“We all love it here and there’s a family mentality, in that we look out for each other and work hard for each other.

“I have no reason not to be happy and have no complaints.”

Clowsley has formed a reliable partnership with Harvey Cowler, at the heart of the Seasiders rearguard. And the former has high praise for his defensive colleague.

“We’re probably the smallest centre-halves in the league but we work really well together,” said Clowsley.

“We’ve known each other for a few years and have a very good relationship.

“Harvey’s done well since moving to centre-half and made it difficult for the others in his position to get a look-in.

“The partnership is going well and we’ve got a good understanding.

“We both like to play football and we’re both confident on the ball.

“Also, crucially, we trust each other and that’s very important at this level.

“To be able to say you trust the players next to you takes a lot of pressure off, especially when you play in an important position like we do.

“If you’ve got that confidence in each other, it means you can concentrate on yourself.

“I’ve been really impressed with Harvey. He’s a good lad and he’s only going to get better.”

Clowsley, Cowler and their team-mates will have to be at their best when high-flying Coggeshall Town head to the Rush Green Bowl on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

The West Street side are third in the table but with games in hand on both leaders Felixstowe and Walton and second-placed Stowmarket Town.

However, they have lost their last two games, going down at Histon before a costly 2-1 defeat at home to Brantham Athletic last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Clacton’s reserves slumped to a 10-0 thrashing at the hands of Essex and Suffolk Border League first division leaders Coggeshall United on Saturday.

They will aim to get back on track this coming weekend when they head to Boxted Lodgers.

Clacton’s under-18s had no Thurlow Nunn Youth League fixture on Saturday and they do not return to south division action until January 30, at Cornard United.