FC CLACTON boss David Coyle hailed two of his young players after the club’s dramatic FA Vase exit at AFC Dunstable.

The Seasiders bowed out of the first-round tie after extra-time, slipping to a 2-0 defeat.

However, there were stand-out performances across from the pitch, not least from Luke Avenell and debutant right-back Kieran Ayling.

The latter was playing his first senior match, on loan from Brightlingsea Regent, while Avenell was stepping in for regular goalkeeper Joe Fowler.

“Luke made two excellent saves in the last five minutes and that’s what he’s capable of,” said Coyle.

“He’s a very good keeper and deserves nothing for praise.

“He couldn’t have done anything more and it would have been three or four by the end of extra-time, without him.

“Kieran was excellent, too.

“He didn’t look like a 17-year-old who’d never played a men’s game before.

“He was playing out of position, but no-one would ever look at him and think he was a weak link.”

Coyle says he and his players will dust themselves down and look forward to getting back in Thurlow Nunn League action.

The Seasiders host Haverhill Rovers in the premier division on Saturday, followed by a League Challenge Cup tie at home to Ipswich Wanderers next Tuesday.