Another Clean Sheet required

Swindon Supermarine interim manager Lee Spalding has demanded another clean sheet as his side travel to fellow promotion hopefuls Didcot Town on Saturday

With both sides on 45 points and boasting near identical records, Marine sit just one place (5th) above their hosts (6th) and Spalding is expecting another tough afternoon after last Saturday’s battling draw away to third in the table Bristol Manor Farm.

“The aim is not to concede, a clean sheet is the order of the day on Saturday,” said Spalding at Thursday night’s training session, “I’ve watched a few of their games on video and they’re a very attacking side. Going forwards they’re very, very good. I’ve done my homework on them, know the way they set up and I’m really looking to obviously go there to try and make sure we’re hard to beat again first and foremost.”

Whilst Marine were returning to winning ways on Tuesday night with a comfortable 3-0 win at North Leigh, Didcot bounced back from their 1-3 defeat at leaders Taunton Town on Saturday to record an impressive 3-0 home win against Southern Premier side Redditch Utd in the Challenge Cup quarter final.

The two teams met previously on Saturday 23rd September, when a bumper crowd of 416 witnessed Marine grab a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a controversial Josh Parsons second half penalty.

Spalding will be without the services of Aaron Woodley for the encounter, who is away on a ‘lads weekend’ so won’t come up against his brother Matt, who plays at full back for ‘The Diddy’.

Ryan Morgan (back) Ryan Campbell (ankle) and Kieran Diaz-Benitez (shoulder) are all injury doubts ahead of the game, though Harrison Bennett returned to training after damaging his thigh.

With the prospect of facing ex-Marine forward George Reid and the in-form Felipe Barcelos (16 goals) Spalding reiterated the importance of not allowing the opposition to score, “ I know we are an attacking threat going forward to score goals and I’m sure if we can get another clean sheet we’ve got a great chance of getting another result. Both Matt Coupe and Joe Sheppard have done really well last two games and deserve a mention, I’m really pleased with both of them. Coupe’s experience is helping Shep through. Keeper Josh Hill has also got his confidence back, Chip’s been working hard with him and he’s done really well last couple of games.”

Source Your Sport Swindon