Clacton are beginning to struggle and their dwindling confidence was highlighted again during Saturday’s draw with Bury St Edmunds.

The Seasiders lost the toss and were asked to field.

Conditions were excellent for batting and Bury’s opening pair of Tom Huggins and Justin Bishop relished the good wicket at Vista Road.

Clacton’s normally potent seam attack were again minus key personnel due to injuries and this, coupled with more dropped catches, provided clear evidence that they would be set a massive target to chase.

Bury’s top order batters scored runs freely.

Huggins (39) and Bishop (52) put on 87 for the first wicket and then Frederik Klokker (85) and Josh Davey (97) put on 154.

Only Imran Sheikh can take any heart from his performance with his 15 overs giving one for 50.

Although everyone tried hard, a killer instinct is lacking at the moment as the coastal side look a shadow of the team that played so well earlier this season.

Bury declared on 284 for five from 66 overs, leaving Clacton to chase their mammoth target from 54 overs.

Clacton’s reply was solid yet unspectacular, with Martyn Cull (16) and Andy Turner (40) putting on 37 for the first wicket.

But it was James Alder – the new-boy to the team for 2009 – that finally showed his obvious class.

Alder, looking assured and showing great technique, started to push the scoring rate and his first 50 for the club in the EAPL was a fantastic effort.

It was the first time a Clacton batsman had scored 50 batting at three in the league for five years and his 82 was the highest for a Clacton number three ever in the EAPL.

His performance was the only real highlight of a turgid and desperate run-chase and his side were always up against it.

Indeed, in the end, Clacton had to hold on for a draw, which they did with little drama through George Brown (13 not out) and Ian Morton (eight not out).