Felixstowe & Walton United will be hoping the weather stays kind tonight when they stage their third Friday night fixture of the season - the previous two attracted bumper crowds to the Goldstar and the Seasiders will be hoping the visit of their Essex counterparts FC Clacton will bring in a 400-plus gate again, writes Phil Griffiths.

The last time these two met at the Goldstar in August last year the Seasiders rattled in eight goals without reply, five of them coming from Jordy Matthews, and the home side currently have the edge over their visitors, winning the reverse fixture 3-0 at the Rush Green Bowl back in August in front of a vociferous band of travelling fans.

Since then the Essex Seasiders have steadied their ship, slowly climbing the table and arrive at the Goldstar in 12th place.

They lost by the only goal of the game in midweek at home to Brantham Athletic but other than that defeat their recent record is good, with just one loss from their previous six outings.

Their current mid-table position, after being perennial strugglers battling against relegation, has come from hard work and the home side certainly won’t be treating this match lightly with every team coming to the Goldstar this season have raised their performance levels – looking to become the first side to take a league point away with them.

The home side will be without striker Nick Ingram, who moved to Bostik League Mildenhall in the week.

But the home side have added to their strike force with the signing of 19-year-old Sam Ford, a former Ipswich Town Under-18 player.

Sam joined West Ham on a one year deal in 2016 and had a loan spell with National League Bishop’s Stortford while there.

The Hammers didn’t take up the option on Ford and the Seasiders management of Kevin O’Donnell and Ian Watson are happy to give the youngster the opportunity at the Goldstar ground.

Last week’s draw at Brantham saw the Seasiders reach the mid-point of their season with just five points dropped, and they will go into this fixture fully focused on the second half of the season.