DAVE Webb has demanded an improvement from his Swindon Supermarine side this weekend, although he concedes even that may not be enough against table-toppers Hereford.

Marine were thrashed 6-1 at home by Salisbury last weekend and now have the task of trying to return to winning ways against a Bulls side sitting 17 points clear at the head of the Southern League Division One South & West table.

Hereford have lost just once in the league this term and Webb knows his team have to raise their game by astronomic levels if they are to match what only Taunton Town have been able to do so far – beating the division’s champions-elect.

“I said before the Salisbury game that the next two games were always going to be difficult. We’re playing the two best sides but can we get anything out of them?,” said Webb.

“We weren’t anywhere near getting anything from Salisbury and this week, it could be even tougher going to play in front of 3,000 people at Hereford against the team who are top of the league.

“We will enjoy the day. We want to go there and put in a performance because last week was not pleasant and if we don’t want to get footballing lessons, we have to improve.

“That’s the challenge this weekend and it won’t be any easier than last weekend. We have to be harder to beat, we have to better on the ball, and we have to limit the opposition’s chances on our goal.

“You have to aspire to be better and try to improve, otherwise you will experience more days like we did last week which is not pleasant for me, not pleasant for the players, not pleasant for the committee and the chairman and the supporters – and that’s who I really feel sorry for because they deserve better.

“That’s 10 goals conceded in two games at home and it’s not what you expect from a team that has done exceptionally well this season.”

Despite a daunting away trip on the cards this weekend, the Webbswood Stadium chief hopes that his troops, who are currently seven points outside the top five, still have the fight for a play-off push.

Marine boss Webb said: “This group have had a good season so far and I don’t want it to fizzle out and us to finish mid-table.

“That’s down to the players now – all I can do is pick the team and put faith in the players.

“Any hopes we have got of the play-offs; it has to start happening soon, otherwise it will be a memory and we will be mid-table, and that’s not where we want to be.”