LONG-SERVING Brantham Athletic full-back Ed Nobbs believes his club are building something special – as proved by their thrilling draw with Felixstowe and Walton.

The Suffolk Seasiders had won 21 of their 22 Thurlow Nunn League matches before visiting the Leisure Centre on Saturday.

However, despite falling behind, the Imps fought back for a well-earned point and only the woodwork denied them a dramatic late winner.

Brantham, who are fourth in the table, will now be hoping for another strong performance in tonight’s derby at FC Clacton (kick-off 7.45pm).

“Not many teams are going to take points off Felixstowe,” said Colchester-based Nobbs, who scored his side’s equaliser against the Suffolk side.

“We always knew we had enough about us to get something and we knew we were capable of scoring against them, having put seven past them in the FA Cup.

“If you’d offered us a point before the game we would have taken it.

“But in the end, a draw was the very least we deserved and had the game gone on a few minutes longer, we might have won it.

“We had to weather a bit of a storm and let them have a bit of the ball, but we stayed compact and were disciplined.

“They didn’t break us down and most of their efforts came from distance.

“We battled away and did ourselves proud.

“We’ve had good squads in the past and flirted with a bit of success, but this year we have more about us.

“We’re more ruthless and we’re grinding out results when we’re not necessarily playing that well.

“Even when we go behind, we know we can come back and gain points.

“The Brantham of last year would probably have huffed and puffed, gone behind and then rolled over.

“But we’re a different side now and hopefully we can keep moving forward.” Nobbs was delighted to notch a rare goal at the weekend.

It was his second of the season, with his other, ironically, coming in Brantham’s remarkable 7-2 FA Cup success against Felixstowe on August 8.

“It was nice to score as I don’t get too many,” said the 26-year-old, who has been an Imps player since he was eight, apart from three years when he was away at Loughborough University.

“I ran the length of the pitch – getting my head down and sprinting – and when the ball came across to me I was one-on-one with the keeper.

“As you could see, I’m probably not the most composed in that position but fortune favours the brave and the ball hit him, bounced off me and went in the net.

“My first touch was actually pretty good – it set me up nicely – but after that it was a bit of pinball after I went for power, rather than placement.

“It was luck rather than judgement but they all count.”

Brantham now switch their attention from the Suffolk Seasiders to the Essex ones, when they visit the Rush Green Bowl tonight.

Nobbs is expecting another tough game, with Clacton unbeaten in six home matches and having lost just once in 12 league matches prior to Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at Fakenham Town.

“Clacton have been doing well,” said Nobbs.

“I know they lost at the weekend but they’ve picked up a few results recently and it’s never an easy place to go.

“We’ll have to go there and be disciplined and keep doing what we’re doing.”

Elsewhere tonight, both STANWAY ROVERS and COGGESHALL TOWN are in League Challenge Cup action.

Stanway travel to Ipswich Wanderers while Coggeshall play host to Newmarket Town.

MALDON AND TIPTREE have a Bostik League division north fixture at Bowers and Pitsea while neighbours HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS have an FA Trophy third round qualifying replay at home to Bostik League premier division side Kingstonian.

The sides drew 2-2 on Saturday.