SUPERMARINE boss Dave Webb is expecting a Christmas ‘cracker’ when his side meet league leaders Cirencester Town on Boxing Day.

The men from the Corinium have been in sensational form so far this season, winning 16 of their 21 Division One South & West games to leave them level on points with Merthyr Town at the top of the table.

Webb was a keen spectator as Town won 3-2 at Evesham on Saturday, following the postponement of his side’s game with Didcot, and is expecting a very different contest to their last visit to Ciren which ended 0-0 on January 1.

“They’ve had a fantastic season so far and they’re there on merit having only lost a few games and they are playing very well,” Webb said.

“I watched them at Evesham on Saturday and although the game could have gone away from them in the second period they showed their quality to see the game through.

“It’s going to be a really good game and we’re really looking forward to it.

“Ideal preparation for us would have been to have played against Didcot at the weekend but the weather meant we couldn’t, but we have to go there and take the game to them as we can’t play any other way.

“We’ll have a go and try and win the game because that’s the way we do things.

“Last year we played each other and cancelled each other out but I don’t think it will be like that this year.

“Both sides will want to win it and that will be a difference.

“We beat Ciren (3-2) at our place earlier in the season so we have the chance to do the double against the league leaders, so it’s all set up to be a cracker.”

While it will be tempting for the Marine players to over-indulge on Christmas Day, Webb knows his side will pay a heavy price if they do not prepare well for the clash with the table-toppers.

“They know what it’s all about and they know if they don’t prepare properly it will be evident in the first 20 minutes of the game and the game could be taken away from us,” he said.

“The players know the importance because we have some experienced guys who will tell the youngsters how well we need to prepare.

“We’ll have a good day with our families on Christmas Day but we have to be ready for the game the day after.”

Webb has been boosted by the news defender Kyle Lapham is available again after recovering from an ankle injury which has kept him out for the last six weeks.