SWINDON Supermarine signed off a perfect opening week to their Southern League Division One South & West season with a 4-2 win over Barnstaple Town.

Having secured victories in their opening two games, newly-promoted Barnstaple were next up for Dave Webb’s side as they looked to stay top in the early stages of the campaign.

The hosts took the lead on 17 minutes when Connor Waldon headed home before Barnstaple levelled three minutes later when James Blake capitalised on a defensive error.

Marine goalkeeper Connor Johns kept the scores level before the break with a save that Webb described as pivotal to the rest of the game.

Waldon netted his second of the game , and fifth of the season, just four minutes into the second half and the result was put beyond doubt when Bradley Hooper scored from the penalty spot and Callum Parsons got Marine’s fourth.

Barnstaple reduced the deficit through Ryan Turner late on but it was too little, too late as Webb hailed his side’s character in their first three games.

“It has been a great start to the season,” said the Marine chief.

“It is just three games but I think all three have been very different in terms of the challenges that have been put in front of the players.

“On Saturday, again we started well and scored a great goal through Connor Waldon and then gave a goal away fairly quickly.

“Connor Johns has made a fantastic save just before half-time to keep us level, which I think is pivotal, really.

“If they had scored, they would have defended deep and we would have struggled breaking them down.

“The second half was event packed with two red cards and a few more goals.

“Fortunately for us, we scored three more and then conceded with the last kick of the game.

“However, a 4-2 win having gone down to 10 men before they went down to 10 men, I couldn’t have asked for much more.”

Josh Parsons was the player to be dismissed for Supermarine and he has since taken to social media to apologise for his actions.

Moments after coming into the match as a substitute, the midfielder appeared to put his hands in the face of one of the Barnstaple players and was given his marching orders.

The visitors were also reduced to 10 men when they saw their goalkeeper Steve Oliver given a red card for handling the ball outside the area and Webb said his players reacted well to going a man light.

“Losing Josh Parsons a minute after coming on as a sub was a massive blow,” he added.

“That could have been pivotal and we could have gone on and lost the game.

“Credit to the players, they dug in and got a result and it’s a great start for us.”