Clapton manager Jonny Fowell says they have no home advantage going into their clash with St Margaretsbury due to problems at their home ground the Old Spotted Dog.

The Tons will be hosting the Essex Senior League new boys at Aveley’s Parkside ground tonight (Wednesday).

Fowell’s side played their first competitive home game away from the Old Spotted Dog in 15 years as they sealed a 1-0 win over Enfield in the Errington Challenge Cup at the weekend.

And it looks like they could be playing a few more matches at the Bostik North outfit’s ground, potentially up until Saturday, November 10.

“Our ground has been damaged so we’re playing at Aveley again, which is not ideal for us to be honest,” said Fowell.

“I personally don’t like the pitch. I know some of the boys don’t really like it either, and people will say it’s better than the Old Spotted Dog, and they’re probably right, but it makes it like an away game.”

Fowell expects the clash with The Bury to be a tough one as they have been in good form since they appointed a new managerial team of Max Mitchell and Tony Faulkner.

“They’ve had a couple of good results; they’ve got a new manager as well, so they’ll be up for it,” he added.

“I don’t actually know anything about St Margaretsbury as they’ve come from a different league, but for us we’ve just got to play our game.

“We’ll put our strongest team out on the night, and the main thing is we need to play the football I like us to play. But we also need the three points as well.”

Fowell also insisted his side need to start piling the pressure on the Essex Senior League front-runners, adding: “We’ve got two games in hand on the leaders and I think if we win our two games in hand then I think we can go up to fourth.

“That’s what we’re looking to do as we want to try putting as much pressure on the top teams as possible.”

The Old Spotted Dog is reportedly recovering after a new strip of turf was laid on one flank, in front of the famous Scaffold stand, after the pitch was dug up by phone company Vodafone. Clapton are also due to host Walthamstow this weekend, but it is unknown where yet.