FC CLACTON’S Kyelan Marvell believes his side have a stronger mentality this season – as demonstrated by salvaging a point from Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Kirkley and Pakefield.

The Seasiders went two-up in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division contest, only to somehow find themselves 3-2 behind.

However, Adam Hampson buried a late penalty for a share of the spoils to add to earlier goals from Charlie Thompson and Jake Plane.

Marvell felt his side would have lost in similar circumstances last season and praised his team-mates for refusing to wave the white flag.

“At the end of the day, we didn’t lose and there were lots of positives to take from the game,” he said.

“Last season we would have folded and lost a game like this, having gone 3-2 down.

“But the mentality has changed this year and we kept going and showing our character.

“We’re not far away and we’ve got to keep pushing on, because we want to be up there in the top half of the table.

“We’ve been in every game this season apart from the Stowmarket one.

“They outplayed us and we didn’t create anything, but on every other occasion we’ve been there or thereabouts.”

The Seasiders found themselves two-up thanks to Thompson’s far-post header and a low, deflected free-kick from Plane.

Kirkley halved the deficit and then drew level from the penalty spot, after a foul by Lee Clowsley.

After adding a third, the Suffolk side must have fancied themselves for maximum points but Hampson’s penalty, after the referee spotted a handball from Plane’s free-kick, secured a share of the spoils from a topsy-turvy contest at the Rush Green Bowl.

“We had two or three chances to make it three and that would have killed the game off,” added Marvell.

“At this level, teams punish you for not making those opportunities count.

“We had a bit of a game-plan and knew Kirkley’s weakest link was their full-backs (the sides had already met twice before this season, in FA Cup ties).

“We knew that if we could drop the ball in behind them, and put them under pressure, we could win throws, corners and knock-downs.

“We did that in the first half but not so much in the second, which just invited pressure and allowed them to get back in the game.

“The momentum swung back to Kirkley, who probably only had four shots but managed to score three goals.”

Marvell has praise for skipper Wayne Chapman, who led by example and worked tirelessly in midfield.

“Wayne was one of our best players,” said Marvell.

“He came back from injury and won some big tackles that gave everyone a lift.”

Clacton head to Godmanchester Rovers on Saturday for their next Thurlow Nunn League assignment.