FC CLACTON manager Tom Austin is eyeing a "perfect" end to 2019 - three points against rivals Stanway Rovers.

The north Essex pair are set to do battle in a Thurlow Nunn League premier division derby at the Austin Arena on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

High-flying Rovers are fifth in the table, with ten wins from their 15 matches.

The Seasiders, meanwhile, are eighth with a top-six spot firmly in their sights.

It promises to be a hard-fought tussle and Clacton will be hoping to bounce back from a poor run of three straight defeats - two in the league and one in the FA Vase.

Their most recent setback was Saturday's 5-2 defeat at Walsham-le-Willows.

Austin admits his side badly need to get back on track and says there would be no better time than Saturday.

"To get a positive result this weekend would be absolutely massive," he said.

"It would be an ideal way to end our year and the perfect way to get back on track.

"League fixtures don't come any bigger for us than playing Stanway.

"It's a derby and they're usually close, hard-fought games.

"They're absolutely flying this season.

"They have a certain way of playing that really works for them.

"As an opponent, they're in your face and they'll fight and scrap for every ball.

"We have to match them and we're really looking forward to the challenge of trying to get one over on them.

"It would be great for the boys and we'd also love nothing more than to do it for our fans.

"There's a loyal group of them who come to every single match, home and away.

"We appreciate it so much and winning this weekend would be a perfect late Christmas present."

Clacton will again be without suspended centre-half Chris Ribchester, who is halfway through a four-match ban.

Karl Andrade scored both of Clacton's goals at Walsham and next up for the Seasiders, after this weekend, is their home match against Thetford Town on January 4.