SWINDON Supermarine will be looking to pick up where they left off against sides positioned in the bottom half of the Southern League Premier Division South table when travelling to Staines Town tomorrow.

Marine have either drawn or suffered one-goal defeats against all of the division’s top six clubs this season, while also picking up timely wins against bottom-half sides Farnborough and Wimborne Town since the start of October.

Those two wins have ultimately promoted Lee Spalding’s side out of the relegation zone, but facing troubled Staines will prove no easy task for the Webbswood Stadium outfit – who will again play three games in the space of a week with a Wiltshire Senior Cup trip to Highworth Town also scheduled next Wednesday.

Spalding said: “Staines have introduced a couple of new players, so we face a challenge.

“They’re good going forward, they score goals. But they also leak goals, so it’s a great opportunity for us.

“We’ll be professional and go about our performance the right way. We need to be up for it.

“This game is no different to playing teams like Weymouth or Taunton at the top. We need to be totally focussed and head there with the aim of securing a positive result.”

Player management will play a key part in Marine’s chances of success over the next four weeks, with eight games scheduled in that period.

Taking full-time job responsibilities and travel commitment into account, Spalding admits all non-league teams will face a logistical challenge in the coming weeks.

“Logistically, non-league teams are challenged,” said Spalding.

“Most players have got full-time jobs, and as managers we have to make sure players are up for it.

“Players have to travel to away games sometimes, which – like in Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Beaconsfield – can be a three or four hour round trip.

“I can’t use that as an excuse, though. All the players know what is needed to win games at this level. To be successful, we need to eradicate silly mistakes and take opportunities when they do present themselves.

“It was a frustrating night for us on Tuesday. We had chances to score and didn’t take them.

“A slight error on our behalf resulted in them scoring and earning three points.

“The players are working hard. We’re competing well and giving ourselves an opportunity to win games.

“At both ends of the pitch, we need to be a bit more clinical. The players are working hard and giving me everything they’ve got, and I can’t fault any of them from Tuesday night.

“It will turn around, we just need a bit of luck. If we keep working like we are, I’m sure results will start turning around.”