Mat Police Preview

SPALDING WANTS HIS TEAM TO KICK ON FROM THEIR MIDWEEK WIN OVER CHESHAM UNITED

Supermarine manager Lee Spalding is targeting all three points against Metropolitan Police on Saturday in order to continue their assault on the top three in the Southern League Premier Division.

Marine picked up a shock win on Tuesday night against leaders Chesham United and became the first time to take the spoils away from the Meadow, and on Saturday Spalding’s men will welcome a mid-table Met Police side who have won their last four games while Marine have lost three of their previous five.

Harry Williams scored the only goal in the 1-0 win against Met Police last season
© Jeff Youd Photography

But with games running out this season, Spalding is fully aware that his team cannot pass up many more opportunities to take points from teams if they are to snatch the one automatic spot up to National League South.

He said: “Met Police are a good side and they’re in good form – four wins on the bounce. “Chesham played them recently and said what a good side they were. “They’ve got some really good attacking players, they’re good on the counter-attack and the lad up front is a real handful. “We’re going to have to make sure that the mentality of the team is right and we perform to the same levels that we did against Chesham.

Celebrations after Harry Williams scored our winning goal last April
© Jeff Youd Photography

“A win on Saturday puts us in a great position to kick on and have a go at the teams who are above us in the table. “We’ll only be looking up and we’ve got to try and chase them down if we can.” One of the teams above Marine in the table is Chesham, who Spalding’s men beat in midweek.

After going a goal down prior to the break, a Michael Hopkins penalty tied the game up just after the hour before Matt Liddiard powered home a diving header almost immediately from the restart.

Harry celebrates his winning goal last season
© Jeff Youd Photography

Spalding felt his team defended as well as they could in the first half, but once a change in shape was implemented after half-time, Marine made their new-found dominance count to take all three points. Spalding said: “Going to the team who were top of the league, away from home, undefeated at their own place all season – not many people gave us a chance.

“So to win in the fashion we did was fantastic. It was a proper team performance after going 1-0 down. “We were up against it in the first half and we did well to limit it to just that at half-time because they asked us a lot of questions defensively. “But every one of the lads was superb. “As soon as we made a change and reverted back to our normal formation after the break, it had a positive effect on the game.”

Calvin Dinsley in action against Met Police last April returns to the squad after his loan spell at Evesham United
© Jeff Youd Photography

Calving Dinsley returns to the squad after a month on loan at Evesham United but missing through injury tomorrow are George Dowling and Alex Henshall. Both miss out tomorrow with hamstring strains but Spalding is hopeful that both will be back with the squad next week at Farnborough. Other than the keeper’s the other players had a night off from training (Thursday) and all should available for selection.

Admission Prices & Other Info

ALL PAY AT THE TURNSTILE | OPEN FROM 1PM

Adults | £10     
Concessions | £6     
U12's | FREE   
Programme | £2       
Car Parking | FREE