8:00am Friday 27th November 2009
By Ned Payne
SWINDON Supermarine boss Mark Collier believes his side will meet the Southern League Premier Division champions at Hunts Copse tomorrow.
Fresh from wins over Brackley Town and North Leigh in the Southern League Cup, Supermarine now face the unenviable task of taking on league leaders Farnborough, who are five points clear with three games in hand over second-placed Brackley.
It is a state of affairs that has led many to predict that the Hampshire side will top the table come May, and Collier is no different.
“I think they will win it comfortably,” he told the Advertiser.
“They expect to win the league and rightfully so with the squad they have put together.
“They are allegedly paying League Two wages and are a big, big non-league club with fantastic financial backing and fantastic support.
“We’re underdogs in lots of games and this one I imagine we will be massive underdogs.
“If it was a boxing match it would be a heavyweight versus a middleweight.”
While he remained guarded on what result he was looking for, Collier was confident that his team could give an impressive account of themselves in the David versus Goliath battle.
“(A good scenario) is that we have put in a very competitive performance and I expect us to do that,” he said.
“We did that at Brackley and you get your rewards when you do that.
“You couldn’t ask for two tougher games than Brackley and Farnborough, but our form has been decent.
“Stourbridge was decent, Oxford City was decent and we played well at Brackley.
“But we know we will have to be at our very, very best to get anything from the Farnborough game.
“They have not lost yet this season and they have scored goals for fun and beaten big teams in the Trophy.
“We don’t fear Farnborough but we certainly respect them.”
Supermarine could be short in defence for tomorrow’s game. Leigh Henry is currently rated 50-50 with a hamstring injury while Danny Allen is suspended and Sean Wood is unavailable.
But Kyle Lapham (ankle) featured against North Leigh in midweek and is expected to be fit.
Elsewhere, Joe Harris is suspended, but Chris Taylor and Justyn McKay are fresh after being rested for the North Leigh game.
Ady Williams’ fitness looks to be improving after he came through the midweek cup clash.
Elsewhere in the Southern Premier, Chippenham Town welcome Brackley and in Southern League Division One South and West, Cirencester Town are away to Bracknell Town.
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