THE usually pragmatic Mark Collier was virtually inconsolable after watching his Supermarine side slip to an undeserved derby defeat tonight.

The 2-1 reverse at rivals Oxford City proved a bitter pill to swallow after Marine had dominated the Southern Premier clash.

“We absolutely battered them. How we didn’t win that match I’ll never know,” said the Hunts Copse chief.

“It’s the best we’ve played in a long time and we really didn’t deserve to lose - I’ve got a very disconsolate dressing room now after that.”

Debutant goalkeeper Luke Purnell did little to endear himself to the Marine faithful as his failure to deal with a cross handed Oxford an early opener.

Luke Hopper responded better to a first-team start by equalising just before the hour-mark but a slip from Kyle Lapham allowed the hosts to pinch an unlikely victory with 15 minutes remaining.

All the drama arrived late on at Hardenhuish Park as Chippenham drew 1-1 with old foes Halesowen.

The Bluebirds dominated the game but fell behind on 87 minutes when Simon Johnson’s effort from the edge of the box slipped through the fingers of on-loan Swindon Town youngster Mark Scott in the Chippenham goal.

Adie Mings’ side hit back two minutes later when Luke Gullick played a one-two with Alan Griffin and sent a low cross-shot into the bottom corner.

Chippenham then had a very creditable penalty shout turned down when Jon Davies was tripped in stoppage time.

In Division One South & West, Jody Bevan hit four as title-chasing Cirencester hammered Hayes 6-1.

Highworth had to dig deep to claim a point from their Hellenic League clash with Ardley.

Steve Robertson’s equaliser on the hour sealed a 1-1 draw.