MANAGER Mark Collier is content that his rebuilding exercise at Swindon Supermarine is progressing as hoped following the departure of key players.

First-choice centre-midfielders Chris Taylor and Chris Allen left for pastures new recently while talismanic forward Jamie Gosling dropped down a league to join Hungerford this week.

But on the flipside defender Jon Beeden and midfielder Joe Harris have both returned, while new strikers Jacob Erskine and Mitchell Bryant both made their debuts in the 2-1 defeat to Salisbury on Wednesday.

“The FA Cup run cost us a couple of players in Taylor and Allen, and after losing those we did particularly well to win a few games,” said Collier, whose side travel to Hemel Hempstead Town in the Southern League Premier Division tomorrow.

“We’ve also lost Jamie Gosling but we think we’ve covered that with the signings of Erskine and Bryant.

“The squad is coming together nicely now and if Ashan Holgate comes back (from injury) then that gives us another option.

“It sometimes takes time (for new players to bed in), unfortunately it’s been difficult to get onto the training ground because of the pitch conditions. Ideally we’d like to work on team shape but you can’t do that in the gym or small-sided pitches.

“But the squad is looking strong and we’re aware of what we’ve got to do.”

Collier is hoping to welcome back striker Holgate tomorrow, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem for several weeks.

But skipper and centre-back Leigh Henry will play no part at Vauxhall Road as he is serving the first of a two-match suspension.

Hemel are currently hovering above the relegation places in the Southern Premier and lost to a reinvigorated Tiverton side on Tuesday.

Collier added: “They aren’t in great form but neither are we, we’ve lost three games in a row but hopefully we’ll take heart from the Salisbury performance.

“We didn’t get too excited when we were winning and won’t get too down now we’ve lost a few. We’re still 10th in the league with 20 games to go and there’s still lots of points to play for.”

Marine are running a supporters' coach to Hemel tomorrow which departs from the Holiday Inn at Coate at 11.30pm. For further details contact the club on 01793 828778.

Elsewhere in the division, Chippenham Town, who have recently signed Highworth’s James Guthrie, play their 400th fixture in the Southern League against visiting Hednesford Town tomorrow.

Cirencester Town travel to Oxfordshire to take on Banbury United.