FC CLACTON manager Tom Austin has hailed the role goalkeeper Joe Fowler played in Saturday’s 3-1 success at Thetford Town.

Jake Plane’s double and another goal from Adam Hampson helped the Seasiders to a much-needed Thurlow Nunn League premier division victory at Mundford Road.

It was their second league win of the season but they were indebted to Fowler, who made a number of key saves to keep them in the game during the first half.

“Not many people will go there and get a result like that,” said a delighted Austin.

“It’s a very difficult place to go and I don’t think I’ve ever won there before.

“The irony is that we could have been 5-1 down.

“Joe kept us in the game in the first half and I told the players at half-time they owed him a massive debt of gratitude for keeping it 1-1.

“Joe’s a very good keeper but this was one of the best performances I’ve seen him produce.

“He made three or four stops from one-on-one opportunities and while that doesn’t reflect well on our defence, because it shows how easily Thetford carved us open, it shows how well Joe did.

“After the break we tweaked a few things and I told the boys not to let themselves down.

“From that point on we dominated, created chances and nullified any danger at the other end.

“It was really pleasing and much-improved from the first half, so a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance.”

Saturday’s win was made all the more impressive by the fact it was a makeshift defence.

Midfielder Wayne Chapman shifted to centre-half, with Charlie Thompson filling in at left-back, in the absence of Lee Clowsley (injured) and Brad James (unavailable).

“It would be nice to get a run of form going and it’ll help when there’s a bit more continuity in terms of team selection,” added Austin.

“I don’t think I’ve been able to field the same team in consecutive games yet, because of injury and unavailability.

“Overall, though, I’d say it’s been an encouraging start.

“There have been plenty of positives, apart from a shocking result and performance on the opening night (losing 5-1 at Hadleigh United).

“Since then we’ve really improved.

“We still need to be tighter at the back and make it harder for teams to score against us.

“But at the other end we’re creating goals and playing some nice stuff.

“We need to be a bit more clinical in both boxes but hopefully we can build on the positives and really push on from here.”

Thompson is unavailable for Saturday’s trip to Walsham-le-Willows while Austin will check on the fitness of Clowsley and Jordan Lartey, who picked up an injury and had to be substituted just after the hour-mark at Thetford.