PROUD FC Clacton boss Tom Austin was positive rather than deflated following his side’s Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup heartache.

The Seasiders lost 1-0 in Tuesday’s final against hosts Brightlingsea Regent, following a second-half winner from former player Aaron Condon.

Clacton had plundered ten goals in their two games on route to the final, putting seven past Little Oakley and three beyond Wivenhoe Town.

But despite falling just short at the final hurdle, Austin was encouraged by his side’s performance against opposition from two rungs higher in the non-league pyramid.

“I said before the game I wanted a reaction from the weekend (when Clacton lost 6-0 at Stowmarket Town) and definitely got that,” he told the Gazette.

“I was proud of the boys.

“They did what I asked and put in a performance for the fans, for the club and for me and (assistant boss) Ade (Webster).

“They gave a good account of themselves and it certainly wasn’t any disgrace losing to a side from two levels above.

“Brightlingsea are a very good team and they play some nice football.

“They had their full-strength side out and a lot of the ball in the first half.

“But we soaked it up and restricted them to half-chances.

“They got their goal just after the break but what pleased me was the lads’ positive reaction after going behind.

“Rather than capitulate, as happened at the weekend, they dug deep and had a real go.

“Brightlingsea’s extra quality in the final third was the difference between the sides but we gave them a scare.”

Austin felt his side’s two performances in the last week were like chalk and cheese.

Stowmarket flexed their muscles with an emphatic victory on Saturday.

The in-form hosts notched their seventh straight win thanks to a 6-0 success.

The contest was effectively over by half-time, by which point they were already leading 4-0.

“We’re a bit Jekyll and Hyde,” added Austin.

“When these lads turn up and put the work and effort in, they’re very good players.

“You could see that on Tuesday.

“We were the underdogs and everyone expected us to lose.

“But to be clapped off the pitch by both sets of supporters shows how well we performed.

“It was a positive night, in terms of the way we played, and didn’t feel like a loss.

“But when that doesn’t happen and they (the players) don’t fancy it, you get a completely different performance.

“It only takes two or three to be off their game and you can end up losing 6-0.

“We can’t get a consistent side out and there’s always someone unavailable, but now we need to take this same attitude and work-rate into the weekend.”

Clacton play their last away game of the Thurlow Nunn League premier division season when they head to Saffron Walden Town on Saturday.

The Seasiders then finish with three straight home fixtures, against Histon next Wednesday, Haverhill Borough on Saturday week and Stanway Rovers on May 7.