MANAGER Angelo Harrop sees tonight's derby against FC CLACTON as a "perfect" fixture for his promotion-chasing STANWAY ROVERS side.

The Hawthorns team are second in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division but now 11 points behind leaders Norwich United, after being held to a 1-1 draw at Walsham-le-Willows on Saturday.

Harrop admits the title race is over, but wants his players to nail down the runners-up position and then hope second spot earns them a passport into the Ryman League.

"We need to bounce back after Saturday," he said.

"We've got some very good players and now is the time for them to really come to the party.

"We need to push on, because there are still important points to play for.

"To me, this is almost a perfect game for us to have.

"There will be a decent crowd and a bit of atmosphere, because it's a derby.

"And because it will be played with real intensity, that will lift the players.

"I'd much rather have a game like this than, say, play a Swaffham or Fakenham.

"It's Clacton's biggest game of the season and, currently, it's our biggest, too.

"I know how difficult it's going to be, though. It'll be one of the toughest of the season.

"Clacton know they'll have to be at their best to beat us, but they always raise their game.

"It's going to be like a cup match but it's one that we'll go into with a lot of confidence and the players will certainly be up for it.

"We're capable of losing to the weaker teams, but when it comes to the crunch I always fancy us to win."

Harrop concedes that it would take something extraordinary for his side to topple Norwich.

However, he is clinging to the hope that his team - who have passed their step four ground grading - are still given an opportunity to go up.

"I'd say the race for top spot is over," he said.

"Norwich will be the champions, but we're certainly more than capable of finishing as runners-up.

"All we can do is keep winning games and the rest will take care of itself.

"We've already achieved more points than we managed last season and now we have to make sure we secure second spot.

"We're led to believe that only the champions will gain promotion.

"However, you never know what's going to happen in terms of the structuring of the leagues.

"It depends what happens with other teams in other leagues."

Stanway needed a late leveller in their premier division match at Walsham.

The hosts scored early on, from a free-kick.

However, Craig Hughes salvaged a share of the spoils.

"It was the kind of game we needed to win," added Harrop.

"Walsham started brightly and took the lead from a deflected free-kick.

"But after that we camped in their half for the remaining hour of the game, without being able to put the ball in the back of the net.

"To be honest, that's been an area we've struggled in for the last five or six games and the players were gutted afterwards."

Stanway's TJ Amass is doubtful with an ankle injury.

Clacton will also be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after losing 3-0 at home to Hadleigh United, on Friday night.