TONIGHT’S home game against Gorleston will give FC CLACTON the opportunity to close the gap on one of their key relegation rivals in the battle to avoid the drop in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division.

The Seasiders are bidding to end a run of eight back-to-back defeats that have left them lodged in the bottom three and eight points away from safety.

Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Kirkley and Pakefield coupled with a win for fourth-from-bottom side Wivenhoe Town widened the gap between Clacton and the Dragons, but the Seasiders have two games in hand on their Essex relegation rivals.

One of those is tonight’s game against Gorleston at the Rush Green Bowl when they will be looking for their first points since the start of December.

Elsewhere tonight, BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT have a Ryman League division one north match at Cray Wanderers.