SWINDON Supermarine boss Lee Spalding says he isn’t ready for the season to end as his troops travel to Evesham Town for their Southern League West play-off semi final tonight (7.45pm).
Marine booked their place in the league’s top six with a 3-0 win over Barnstaple Town at the weekend.
Due to their fifth-placed finish, Marine were ordered to travel for their semi-final but while some may see that as a disadvantage, Spalding believes that puts the spotlight firmly on the home side and urged his troops to stay level-headed.
“It puts more emphasis and pressure on them as the hosts,” added Spalding. “They’ll be looking to come out and have a right go from the start which could leave them open for a few opportunities to counter.
“We as a team have been in situation before, I’ve been at the club for five years and we have lost in the play-offs three times before.
“The disappointment is massive and it means the end of the season. I really don’t want the season to end like that.
“The players have put so much effort in since I’ve been in charge and they have been excellent. I really think it is important we all turn up and put everything into it.”
Spalding, who was put in charge in an interim role after the departure of Dave Webb in the middle of January has led his side to a run of three defeats in 19 games, which includes a 3-3 draw and 2-0 win over Evesham.
While he admits that does give him some confidence, Spalding says the game itself has a different nature to their domestic encounters.
“We can take confidence from our record against them but I don’t think the results we have had against them so far this season will effect what happens tonight. It’s a one off game,” he said.
“It’s a lot different than a league game. It comes down to who are the best team on the night and who get a bit of luck, because anything can happen.
“The first thing is to win the game. I don’t want to make it any different to the ones we have played all season.
“We have a good momentum at the moment, we are unbeaten in nine games and when I look at it, I’m confident we have enough to win the game.”
Follow Matthew Davies on Twitter @MattDavies25 for updates from tonight’s play-off, plus reaction & pictures in tomorrow’s Swindon Advertiser
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