BRIDGWATER Town’s flight in the face of the formbook in midweek is a blessing in disguise, according to Swindon Supermarine manager Dave Webb.

Tomorrow afternoon, Marine make the trip south to Somerset to take on struggling Bridgwater, who claimed their long-awaited first win of the season with a superb 1-0 victory over high-flying Tiverton Town on Tuesday.

Webb’s side themselves picked up an impressive result of their own in midweek by recovering from a home humbling at the hands of Evesham United by thumping Wimborne Town 5-1 on the road.

While Bridgwater’s confidence will have undoubtedly received a timely boost as a result of their Tiverton triumph, the Webbswood Stadium boss is hoping that result will eliminate any complacency from his troops ahead of their visit to Fairfax Park.

“Bridgwater is now a huge game because if anybody doubts that it isn’t going to be difficult going down there, then just look at the results from the week,” said Webb, whose team are 16 places above Bridgwater in the Southern League Division One South & West table in fourth.

“After doing very well to get a draw at Shortwood on Saturday, they’ve then gone and beaten a side that I’d consider one of the favourites to win the league.

“We might have gone down there thinking that the game was already won but there’s no way that we can do that now.

“It’s never been an easy place to go and they’re changing a lot – they’ve got a good manager (Craig Laird) and he’s bringing in a lot of new players.

“We will go there looking for the three points but we know that we’re going to have to play well go get those three points before we play the league leaders, Hereford, on Tuesday.”

Ryan Wood will sit out the weekend’s trip to Bridgwater as he continues to adhere to concussion protocol – the defender was hurt in Marine’s FA Trophy win over Slimbridge on October 8 – while Ryan Morgan is suspended.

Conor Thompson is away as he prepares to tie the knot in the United States next week and the midfielder will be accompanied by captain Zak Westlake, who is married to Thompson’s sister, but Tyron Leigh could be back in contention following a spell out with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, long-serving forward Bradley Gray has opted to leave the club, with the 26-year-old departing in search of a new challenge.

Webb said: “I didn’t want him to leave. I asked him to reconsider but he said his mind was made up and he wanted to try and reinvigorate himself elsewhere.

“He’s been at the club a long time and he was my player of the year last season.

“You never want to lose a player of that quality but there’s not much we can do, so he leaves with our best wishes.”