SWINDON Supermarine boss Dave Webb has called on his team to maintain their steely side as they face a tough 11 days in which to cement their promotion credentials.

Marine make the short trip to Gloucestershire to face Shortwood United in Southern League West tonight - the first of three successive away matches before the Christmas and New Year period.

Saturday's 2-1 win over Paulton Rovers at the Webbswood Stadium took Marine back into the top-five places and they are just three points behind second-placed Bristol Manor Farm with three games in hand.

Webb, who saluted his side's fighting qualities in the win over Paulton, is now hoping his men can put some roots down at the upper end of the table ahead of the traditionally busy festive period.

"We're now in the top five and that's where we've got to try and stay now,'' he said.

"We've got three difficult away games to follow (trips to Evesham and North Leigh are also coming up) so that will be tough.

"We've still got some games in hand on the sides around us and we go to Shortwood which is always difficult.

"They will be competitive but we have to go there and try get another win.

"It was great to see a side of us that some would question we don't have.

"If we don't roll our sleeves up and work hard and fight and scrap, we probably don't get three points so the players deserved great credit for that (against Paulton).''

Also in action tonight are Fairford Town in the Hellenic League Premier Division, they too heading into the trip to Lydney Town off the back of a weekend win, having defeated Highmoor-Ibis 3-1.

The Cinder Lane men have registered three straight victories but boss Jody Bevan insists they must not take their eyes off the ball as they look to pull clear of the lower end of the table.

"We can't get too far ahead of ourselves because we're still down at the wrong end of the table and pretty much all the other teams at the bottom got results,'' said Bevan.

"So we can't go believing that suddenly we're better than what we are.

"But it's definitely been a real positive last four weeks and we're definitely now going in the right direction.

"(Lydney are) It's another team that are above us on goal difference but have played less games. It's another big game for us.''