NON-LEAGUE: Webb braced for a tough night (From Swindon Advertiser)

NON-LEAGUE: Webb braced for a tough night

6:00am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in Sport

SWINDON Supermarine boss Dave Webb is expecting a tough examination for his new-look side when they travel to Southern League Division One South and West stalwarts Abingdon United this evening.

The U’s have been in the division for the last 10 years and opened their season with a 0-0 draw at Tiverton, while recently-relegated Marine began life in the league’s second tier with a 2-2 draw at home to Merthyr Town.

Webb was pleased with the result which saw his side haul themselves back from 2-0 down to secure a point, but is expecting to have to work hard to get anything from their trip to Northcourt Road.

“I know their manager quite well, and he has a lot of experience particularly in this league so we will be in for a tough game,” he said. “We know how tough this division can be, and there are no easy games and this is no different at all.

“But we will go into the game confident because every player has more to give than they did on Saturday, and that is a positive for us. The weekend was a good start, and after slipping behind all we wanted to do was come back and get something out of the match.

“We are learning all the time, and with every game we play we get more experience of playing together, which is only natural at this stage of the season.

“Each time we play is another chance for us to assess our strengths and weaknesses, and Abingdon is another chance for us to do that.”

Goalkeeper Kent Kauppinen is available for the game despite being tagged following his release from prison, having been granted permission to play in eveing games as long as he is home by 11pm.

Webb is pleased to have the keeper available to him, and is hopeful he will provide his side with a solid presence between the sticks.

“He is a great keeper and we are pleased to have him, and he showed his dominance at times during the game on Saturday,” he said. “He has only been back training with us for a little while, but we have seen his confidence grow and grow in that time, and it is only going to improve.

“I have no doubt he will make that position his own between now and the end of the season.”

Elsewhere in Division One South and West Cirencester take on North Leigh, while Chippenham will be looking to bounce back from defeat to Hemel Hempstead when they host Weymouth tonight.

In the Hellenic Premier, Shrivenham manager Michael McNally is just looking forward to a change of opposition as his side travel to Holyport.

Shrivvy faced Kidlington three times in seven days last week, twice in the FA Cup and once in the league, and although his team didn’t suffer defeat, McNally is looking forward to a different test.

“It was strange playing them so quickly after each other, but to not lose any of the games was very pleasing,” he said.

“But now we play Holyport and it is nice to take on someone different, and we know we are going to be playing a good side.

“We have a young team, which is good because they listen to what you have to say, and we have been doing well so I am hopeful of getting something.

Shrivvy will have to do without Sam Roberts and Richie Smith who both have ankle ligament injuries, but otherwise McNally has a full squad to choose from.

Elswhere in the Hellenic League, Highworth will be looking to quickly bounce back from their 5-0 drubbing at Binfield when they host Cheltenham, while in Division One West Fairford host Brimscombe and Thrupp and Wootton Bassett take on Clanfield.