NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Webb calls for fixture revamp (From This Is Wiltshire)

SUPERMARINE boss Dave Webb believes the fixture schedule needs a radical shake-up to avoid congestion in the latter part of the season.

The South Marston side have 13 Division One South & West games to fit in between now and the end of April, with a major factor in that being the poor weather that has dogged the campaign.

And Webb reckons that cracking on with midweek games early on will have a beneficial effect when the season approaches its closing months.

“For non-league, how many years is it going to continue that the weather is going to have such a hold on the outcome?” said Webb, who also had major problems with fixture congestion when manager of Hellenic League outfit Highworth.

“Every year it happens. We must have lost two months of the season.

“You should be looking to play Saturday-midweek right from August. You shouldn’t have a midweek without anything right through September, October and November. You should take advantage of the good weather.

“From a players’ perspective I think they would like to be playing Saturday-Tuesday or Saturday-Wednesday anyway.

“We didn’t have a great run in the FA Trophy or the FA Cup this season and we also went out early in the Red Insure Cup. In hindsight it was probably a good thing that we did go out, otherwise how would we have got those games in?”

Marine travel to North Leigh tonight and Webb has doubts over ankle injury victim Craig Curtis, while midfielder Harry Etheridge is suspended.

Webb’s men are targeting a seventh win in a row in Oxfordshire. A pitch inspection will take place to determine if the game can go ahead.

In the Hellenic League, relegation-battlers Highworth and Shrivenham are scheduled to take on Slimbridge and Newbury respectively.

A division below, lowly Malmesbury face a titanic task at home to high-flying Tytherington.