COLCHESTER United have been handed a comprehensive scouting report on non-league side Swindon Supermarine ahead of this Saturday’s potential banana-skin of an FA Cup match – and it is mixed news for the U’s.

After Suffolk non-league side Lowestoft Town inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the obscurely named Wiltshere side last weekend courtesy of a last-minute winner in the FA Trophy, Blues joint-manager Micky Chapman has provided the EADT with his low-down on Supermarine.

And while the Crown Meadow boss believes League One hosts Colchester will breeze past the lowest-ranked team left in the second round, a couple of the Zamaretto League Premier Division side’s strengths he has highlighted may cause some minor concern amongst U’s fans.

“They are a very good side,” warned Chapman, whose side play at the same step three level of the non-league pyramid (Ryman League Premier Division) as Supermarine.

“They are organised, very disciplined and have a big lad up top (Ashan Holgate) who is a real handful. They are a footballing side who try to get the ball down and play, while they are also dangerous from set-pieces as well.

“We have achieved successive promotions in recent years and reached an FA Vase final and they are they are certainly up there in terms of the toughest tests we have had.”

The above will be of slight concern to Colchester considering they have lost two of their last three games after coming up against highly-organised Swindon and Brentford teams, with set-pieces looking a weak point in the Essex side at present. Supermarine boss Mark Collier will know as much having witnessed Colchester’s 2-0 home defeat on Tuesday night for himself.

However, before U’s fans start getting too worried about being on the receiving end of another infamous FA Cup giant-killing – the Essex club having crashed out to the likes of Sutton United (93/94), Bedlington Terriers (98/99), Gravesend & Northfleet (95/96) and Yeovil (00/01) over the years – they should read on.

Chapman continued: “In the second half last weekend we took the game to them and in the end we deserved our late winner. We always felt we could hurt them down the flanks, down the left side in particular, and we got a lot of joy down the sides.

“If Colchester press them high up the pitch and get at them down the wings then I can see them comfortably progressing.

“Swindon Supermarine have obviously got nothing to lose, they are a potential banana skin and, as we all know, anything can happen in the FA Cup.

“That said, Colchester are a professional football club and they will know of all these dangers I have just spoken about. Dave Carolan (U’s fitness coach) works with us as well and he has been liaising between the clubs.

“Colchester had already watched them on various occasions before we played them and they helped us out a lot. We then videoed our game at the weekend and have given the tape to Colchester.

“I’m pretty confident that Colchester will go through comfortably. They are a great club, one we are keen to keep a good relationship with and we wish them luck on Saturday.”

– For more build up to this FA Cup tie, see tomorrow and Saturday’s EADT.