WITH ambitions to win promotion to National League South in the next couple of seasons, Lee Spalding expects nothing less than a credible performance by his players when Weston-super-Mare visit the Webbswood Stadium this weekend.

Weston suffered their first ever relegation last year when finishing bottom of the National League South table having accumulated only 35 points from 42 fixtures.

It ended the Seagulls’ 15-year stay in non-league’s second tier, but the club acted quickly to recruit Scott Bartlett – formerly of Forest Green Rovers – as manager.

Bartlett’s opening months at the Optima Stadium have been far from cosy, with the club languishing down the table in 11th and won five, drawn five and lost five.

But with a decent budget behind them, Supermarine chief Spalding admits his players must be on their guard defensively if a fourth clean sheet in a row is to be recorded.

He said: “They (Weston-Super-Mare) will be disappointed by their current position in the table, particularly with the players they have at the club.

“They’ve got a decent budget, and their expectation was to go straight back up. We expect it to be a tough game.

“I’ve watched clips of them, and I’m confident that – if we perform on the day – we can get the win.”

Cheltenham Town youth prospect Matt Williams could be back in the side this weekend having been absent for 10 weeks through injury.

The defender has returned to full-time training, and Spalding is hopeful the ex-Gloucester City man can add some strength in depth to Marine’s squad – something Weston will possess in abundance.

Spalding added: “Looking at the teams in the division at the start of the year, Weston would be a team you’d expect to be up there.

“They’re a big club, and expectation around the club will be high. I know Scott Bartlett - he has taken that job on with a view of getting them straight back up into National League South. We expect nothing other than a tough game.

“There’s quality right through their squad, but we have that also. It’s our aim to get into National League South in the next couple of seasons, and I’m confident we’ll give Weston a good game with the squad we’ve got.”