FC CLACTON defender Jimmy Shuttlewood believes his in-form club are a completely different proposition now compared to earlier in the season.

The Seasiders looked odds-on for relegation during the early months on the campaign, when they shipped goals and languished at the bottom of the table.

However, they appear to be on the up and notched another impressive result on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at high-flying Great Yarmouth Town.

They remain second from bottom but are just five points behind Ely City, Hadleigh United and Long Melford and six behind neighbours Wivenhoe Town.

“The whole club feels different now,” said full-back Shuttlewood, who joined in the summer from coastal neighbours Holland FC.

“A lot of talented players have come in and there’s such a great team spirit at the moment.

“Everyone wants to play for each other, whereas at the start of the season the side was perhaps built more around individuals.

“We believe we’re going to stay up.

“At the start of the season we might have taken the lead but then we’d concede four or five goals.

“Now we’re grinding out wins and draws and a good example of that was our last home game, when we came from behind to beat Fakenham 4-2.

“We came out a completely different side in the second half.”

Clacton fell behind early on in Saturday’s match at Yarmouth.

However, they equalised with a well-worked goal, finished by new signing Sam Cripps after great work from skipper Kevin Coyle.

“We made a slow start but, overall, played well and looked very solid and organised,” said boss Kieron Shelley.

Meanwhile, loanee Keiron Baker will be hoping to shine again when the Seasiders return to the Rush Green Bowl on Saturday, against third-placed Newmarket Town.

The Brightlingsea Regent striker scored a hat-trick on his debut in the last home game against, against Fakenham.

Regent boss James Webster is delighted to see his player flourishing and keeping a close eye on his progress.

“Technically, Keiron is as good as anyone in our squad,” he said.

“He just needs to get fit and get more game-time under his belt.

“This loan spell will keep him ticking over and it was brilliant to see him score a hat-trick the other day.”

None of the Essex sides have a midweek fixture in the Thurlow Nunn League.

Like Clacton, STANWAY ROVERS and WIVENHOE TOWN do not play again until Saturday.

Karl Duguid's Stanway, who did not have a game last weekend, are at home to Gorleston while the Dragons travel to botttom club Swaffham Town.