FOCUSSING attention on recording clean sheets has been made a priority by satisfied Swindon Supermarine boss Lee Spalding, who will welcome Wimborne Town to the Webbswood Stadium in Southern League Premier Division South this evening (7.45pm).

Marine’s last clean sheet came during the club’s three-goal FA Cup preliminary round win against AFC Dunstable in early September.

The signing of Jerel Ifil has helped stabilise Marine’s turbulent defensive record, although Spalding is now calling on his troops to make life for standout strikers Stuart Fleetwood and Conor McDonagh easier by denying Wimborne a look at Kevin Sawyer’s net.

Spalding said: “First and foremost, it’s important that we start keeping clean sheets.

“We’ve started defending better, but it’s still an area we can improve. Until we start getting clean sheets, I won’t be happy.

“It’s a case of keep trying to work on things in training. We had a good weekend – we trained Saturday and last Thursday.

“We’re trying to make sure everyone has got an understanding of what we’re trying to achieve defensively. We want to be solid and ensure we don’t give away any silly goals.

“It’s at both ends of the pitch that we have to really nail down. We’ve been taking our chances – Stuart Fleetwood and Conor McDonagh have been playing really well, they’ve worked hard.

“Them taking their chances has made a difference. Defensively, it’s a case of starting to keep clean sheets.”

Facing Wimborne will bring back poignant memories for Spalding, whose managerial performance against the Dorset side in last season’s play-offs helped secure his seat as the club’s first-team manager for the current campaign.

A win on penalties earned Supermarine promotion to the Evo-Stik South Premier Division South, while Wimborne’s promotion was confirmed after Shaw Lane confirmed their withdrawal from the Northern League Premier Division.

Although Wimborne’s promotion last season was ultimately secured by a geographical knock-on effect, Spalding is giving Matt Holmes’ side the respect they deserve.

He said: “I think they struggled in the first four or five games, but they’ve started to find their feet a little bit now.

“Prior to last weekend, they won two games on the spin – so they do travel here with a bit of form behind them.

“They’re a good side with some good players. Toby Holmes up front is definitely a goal threat for them.

“It’s going to be a really strong test for ourselves, but we must try and use our momentum to our advantage.

“When we played them at home last season, they defeated us, and it’s always a reasonably tight game.

“They’re competitive, which is why we must expect a tough challenge.”