SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Former player Wood doubts Supermarine's title chances (From Swindon Advertiser)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Former player Wood doubts Supermarine's title chances

6:00am Friday 11th January 2013 in Sport By Ned Payne

FORMER Supermarine midfielder Sean Wood has labelled Poole as Hungerford’s main rivals for the Division One South & West title.

Fourth-placed Marine travel to league leaders Hungerford tomorrow and midfielder Wood, who now plies his trade at Bulpit Lane, feels his ex-employers are in the chasing pack for top spot without being at its forefront.

Poole are two points behind Hungerford with four games in hand and Wood says the Dolphins are the side best-placed to challenge his own.

“Supermarine have been on a great run but I think it’s between us and Poole and maybe Merthyr,” said Wood.

“Poole have been up there for the last couple of years and they are always a strong side. They might not be top but they are in a good position.

“For Supermarine it depends how they come through this sticky patch, which funnily enough falls when they play us.

“You concentrate on yourself but you do look over your shoulder sometimes, and when teams are having runs like winning 10 league games in a row, you know it’s a good achievement.

“What Dave Webb has done down there on the money available is very good. They have got a good core of players in the likes of Bamps (Dave Bampton) and Lappo (Kyle Lapham), and now they have Chrissy Taylor in there as well.”

Wood predicts a tight affair in Berkshire this weekend and is confident his team can avenge their 1-0 defeat at the Webb’s Wood Stadium back in September.

“There won’t be much between the sides, but we are at home and I think we’ll win the game,” he said.

”We’ll be looking to get three points, not only because we lost to them last time but just because we’re at the top of the table and we need to maintain that.

“When you are at the top every game is important, if you lose one or two then the teams below start to catch up.”

Meanwhile, love is in the air at Cirencester where a trio of Centurions are making early wedding preparations after proposing to their long-term partners.

Manager Brian Hughes, captain Jamie Reid and striker Scott Griffin all popped the question after realising long-term commitment was what they wanted.

In the short term, Ciren are focused on a home clash with Cinderford and ending a league run of seven games without a win.