AFTER their trip to Barnstaple Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday, Swindon Supermarine chief Dave Webb believes the cancellation could be both a blessing and a curse for his side.

Going into the game, the Webbswood Stadium side were struggling with injuries and suspension, with a total of 10 players ruled out of the trip to north Devon.

However, with the game being called off those injured players will have slightly longer to recuperate before turning their attention to Tuesday night’s home clash with Bishops Cleeve.

While the postponement has its obvious perks, Webb is unsure weather it is entirely a good thing, as Marine will now have to make the 267-mile round trip on a week day.

“It is the longest trip of the season so really you want to do that on a Saturday if you can because of people’s work commitments,” he said.

“I think it was the only game to get called off in the league which is unfortunate, but on the other hand, I think we had 10 players who were injured or suspended.

“In some respects we managed to get a team together. I’m sure we would have been okay, but in some respects it might be a good thing in the long run.”

In a bid to relieve some of the injury problems they have been suffering, Webb opted to sign defender Keiran Diaz-Benitez on a dual contract with Hellenic League Premier Division side Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

Diaz-Benitez was due to feature for the club at Barnstaple, but Webb says he will now have to speak with Bassett boss Rich Hunter about the future of the defender.

“We have a couple of younger players who were at Bassett and we were at the bare bones defensively,” added Webb, who revealed that the club are on the hunt for further reinforcements.

“He’s played in the Southern Premier division and he is a very good young player. Bassett had no game on Saturday so they let us dual-sign him, so that is how it came about.

“Obviously now we have to have a chat with the player and Bassett to see what the future holds for him.

“We are looking for more players. We have spoken to a couple of professional clubs about loan deals and we are waiting to hear back from them.

“It’s key areas where we are struggling, we are looking but we have had a few seven-day approaches put in without any joy.

“We have spoken to four or five players now and for whatever reason, they are happy where they are.

“It’s difficult because we could be trying to attract a player who is playing for their club at a higher level.

“The players have got to improve the group that we have got, but the short-term risk is that we are struggling to get 14 players out there."