FC CLACTON manager Tom Austin believes his players have achieved something special by matching last season’s points tally.

The Seasiders took their total to 51 from 34 games after thumping Gorleston 4-1 at the Rush Green Bowl on Tuesday night.

It left them ninth in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division table with four matches left, against Great Yarmouth Town on Saturday, Walsham-le-Willows on April 20, Brantham Athletic on April 22 and Gorleston on April 27.

And it means they are highly likely to surpass last season’s tally of 51 points from 46 matches – a campaign in which they finished 18th.

“We’ve already matched last season’s points total from far fewer games which is a real achievement,” Austin told the Gazette.

“It shows we’ve improved, even though we’ve had a little blip recently, and I’m very proud of that.

“My target at the start of the season was to finish in the top ten – which we’re on course to do – and to have this many points on the board already is a special feeling.

“At any club, you’ve always got to look to progress. Otherwise what’s the point?”

Clacton lost 5-1 at high-flying Stowmarket Town on Saturday but bounced back to winning ways thanks to a convincing victory at the Bowl on Tuesday.

Jordan Lartey and Adam Hampson gave them a two-goal advantage at the break before an own goal and a fourth from Karl Andrade left Gorleston shell-shocked.

The visitors pulled one back late on but it failed to take the gloss off a satisfying night.

“It felt good to be home again and nice to get back to winning ways,” said Austin.

“I was very pleased with the boys and the fans deserved it after our shocking performance in the last home game, against Framlingham (lost 4-1).

“We played some nice football, took our chances and were exciting to watch.

“We could have been 4-0 up at half-time but then it would also have been 2-1, had it not been for a vital save from Joe Fowler.

“Then, in the second half, Gorleston didn’t threaten us much. We managed to nullify them.

“As I’ve said so many times this season, we’re such a Jekyll and Hyde side.

“We lack consistency but this was one of those occasions when things went well and I’d give every single player at least seven out of ten.

“However, you can’t choose when you turn up and when you don’t.

“If we want to push on and be a top-six side next season, we need to be consistently good every week.”

Austin thanked the club’s under-nines, who were mascots on the night.

The Seasiders are back at the Bowl on Saturday for the visit of Yarmouth and Clacton hope to welcome back twins Jake and Lee Clowsley.

Hampson (dead leg) and Zack Smith-Walter (ankle) both had to come off with injury and will be assessed later in the week.

Ben Parkin is unavailable while Adam Daniels will not play again this season, having broken his ribs in last week’s reserve match against Cavendish.