FELIXSTOWE & Walton United are carving out a reputation as midweek away-day specialists in the Ridgeons League.

Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Ely City was the fifth time that the Seasiders have won on the road in midweek in the Premier Division this season.

And when you consider that accounts for 15 of the 27 points Felixstowe have accrued so far this season, it is easy to see why they are enjoying their midweek travels.

Joint managers Andy Clarke and Kevin Witchalls were delighted by Tuesday’s win at the Unwin Ground – never an easy place to pick up three points – which has lifted Felixstowe out of the bottom three.

Witchalls quipped: “Andy asked in the dressing room if we can enter a midweek away league next season!”

On a more serious note he said: “It is a long way to come here in midweek, and it would have been an even longer journey home if we had not got something from the game. But the boys showed great spirit, and we are certainly not going down with a whimper, if we are going down at all.”

The win at Ely was Felixstowe’s first in six matches and followed home draws against CRC (1-1) last Tuesday and Hadleigh United (0-0) on Saturday as the Seasiders made it five points from their last three games.

Witchalls said: “We have produced three good performances in a row.

“Last week before the game against CRC we would have taken a point, and likewise against Hadleigh on Saturday.

“The return of goalkeeper Liam Jones has made a big difference – his talking brings a lot of confidence to the team.

“That is not being detrimental to Dan Heath, who is a youngster learning his trade,” said Witchalls of the keeper who Felixstowe signed as cover while Jones was recovering from a broken leg.

Witchalls said that a change of formation in the last couple of games, switching to a 4-3-3 line-up, had also paid dividends.

“We have tried to be positive and give Allicion Blake more support up front,” he explained.

Karl Andrade and Matt Mackenzie played alongside Blake on Saturday, but both suffered injuries, meaning Roger Burton and Glenn Snell came into the side on Tuesday.

Felixstowe lost teenage left back George McCallum to a groin injury at half time on Tuesday, and Witchalls said: “With a game every three or four days at this stage of the season it is a tough ask to play so many games, especially as the players have to work as well.”

McCallum is a doubt for Saturday’s tough trip to Wroxham while Ben Garnham, who scored the winner at Ely, is unavailable.

Garnham, playing in a more advanced midfield role than he has been accustomed to at previous clubs, has scored twice in just six starts for the Seasiders – doubling his number of Ridgeons League goals since making his debut four years ago.