ADAM Daniels grabbed a late equaliser as FC Clacton salvaged a battling 2-2 draw against high-flying neighbours Stanway Rovers.

The Seasiders went into today’s Thurlow Nunn League premier division derby as real underdogs, sitting bottom of the table and having lost 18 of their 22 games.

However, they produced a spirited performance to frustrate their promotion-chasing visitors, twice equalising after falling behind.

Stanway made a dream start, opening the scoring after just three minutes thanks to form man Terry Rymer.

The striker had also scored one and made the other in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Woodbridge – a performance described as “outstanding” by Rovers boss Steve Pitt.

But Clacton belied their lowly position and levelled midway through the half thanks to Rob Thorne.

The Gas Recreation striker, who is helping the Seasiders out by playing for them over Christmas, also scored at the weekend, in the club’s 2-1 defeat at Hadleigh United.

Lee Townrow put Stanway in front again, just after the hour-mark, with a free header from 12 yards.

But Clacton equalised for the second time eight minutes from time.

Daniels netted from close range, after great work from Thorne.

In a dramatic finale, Thorne was then dismissed for a second booking offence.

The game had gone ahead after surviving a pitch inspection and, with no other games in the Thurlow Nunn League, it was watched by a decent crowd of 154.