SWINDON Supermarine manager Mark Collier has labelled lowly Oxford the “surprise package” of the Southern League Premier Division, but believes it is a tag City will shake off by the end of the season.

Oxford are third-bottom of the table having recorded just two wins from 22 games, a far cry from the 2009/10 campaign where they finished comfortably midtable, 18 points clear of the relegation places.

Marine travel to City tomorrow as they look to continue their excellent recent run of form, and Collier said: “I’m a little shocked they are where they are in the division because they have got some really good players and a good manager.

“They are the surprise package of the bottom half of the league certainly, they have underachieved by a long way.

“I would have expected them to be pushing for the play-offs with what they have achieved over the last few years. If they had won half the games they drew they would be in the top half, so it’s a funny league.

“Mike Ford (manager) is very experienced in the pro and non-league ranks and I don’t expect them to be in the bottom part of the table come the end of the season.”

Following Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Halesowen, Supermarine rose to sixth in the Southern Premier standings, which is the highest they have been this campaign.

And Collier added: “I think we’ve won seven out of the last eight and I was told at the weekend that we are top of the form guide.

“People thought losing players might have a massive effect on our season but everyone’s come to the party. We’re up there with big non-league football clubs which is a credit to the players.

“We have one ambition and that’s to finish as high in the table as we can.”

Collier has one injury concern ahead of tomorrow’s match with striker Ashan Holgate facing a fitness test on a niggling hamstring problem.

Elsewhere in the division, Chippenham Town host midtable Bashley and recently-returned full-back Shaun Lamb admits it will take him time to regain full fitness.

The Bluebirds man missed more than three months of action after breaking a metatarsal in his left foot in September, but returned for last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Didcot.

“It’s been hard after being out for three and a half months and I’m just trying to get some games in now to get my fitness back,” said Lamb.

“It’s going to take me four or five games to get back to where I was before I broke my foot, but I’ll get there, no problem.”

Cirencester Town have no fixture after their game at home to second-placed Salisbury City was postponed.

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