JOSH Parsons’ second-half strike extended Swindon Supermarine’s unbeaten start to the new season to an eighth game as they earned a 2-1 win at higher league Gosport Borough in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Although Southern League West side Marine travelled to a Borough side who ply their trade one tier higher in the Premier Division, Webb’s troops would have fancied their chances of victory given the fact the hosts have lost all seven of their league fixtures so far this term.

And that proved to be the case as Aaron Woodley’s strike late in the first half put Marine in control at Privett Park.

The visitors did not have it all their own way in the second period as Aaron Dawson restored parity soon after the restart but Parsons was able to ensure it was Marine who finished with the spoils, much to Webb’s delight.

“It’s well documented about Gosport’s form – they haven’t won in the league – so many people probably had us as favourites but we’re still playing a team from a higher level and fair play to Gosport, they had a real go,” said Webb.

“They kept going and when they got back to 1-1, they were right in the game. We made a triple substitution and that made a bit of a difference for us.

“We were desperate to progress in the FA Cup and it doesn’t matter how you win a game, you have just got to win it and that’s what we have done.

“We can be better than we were and we know that. At times we played some really good stuff but we probably were not as clinical as we could have been in front of goal to kill the game off but we scored two great goals and we did enough to win.

“That’s what good sides do, you do enough to win and we did that on Saturday.”

Webb will now have a keen eye on Monday’s third qualifying round draw as he looks to better Marine’s FA Cup exploits of 12 months ago, in which they exited at this stage after going down at National League South side Welling.

“I am very pleased. It was an excellent result for the club and it keeps our run going and we’re in the hat for the next round on Monday and that was what Saturday was all about,” added Webb.

“We have progressed and hopefully we can get a good draw at home against someone from a similar level and then after that you are just one win from the first round and that’s our target.

“We got to this stage last year and let ourselves down at Welling but hopefully whoever we draw, we do a bit better as we are looking to progress again.”