A GOAL at the start of either half saw Swindon Supermarine slip to a frustrating home loss at the hands of Wimborne Town this afternoon.

Dave Webb’s side were left cursing their luck as they were caught cold early on in both the first and second period at the Webb’s Wood Stadium, with the hosts unable to capitalise on their dominance of possession as they were left to reflect on a number of excruciating near-misses.

Marine got off to the worst possible start as the visitors found the net with just four minutes on the clock.

Winger Sam Griffin beat the offside trap and was left with space to drive into before laying the ball into the path of Matt Kemble for an easy tap-in.

Ryan O’Hara attempted to add some impetus to a shell-shocked Marine a few minutes later as he burst forward before laying the ball off to Ryan Stanners but his strike flew wide of the mark.

Winger O’Hara hit an attempt into the hands of Magpies keeper Jason Harvell before the home side threatened again midway through the half, with some progressive play leading to Stanners knocking a dangerous ball across the six-yard box but fellow frontman Luke Hopper just failed to get the final touch.

Moments later, the home side passed up the chance to draw later as O’hara’s pinpoint delivery found Josh Morse unmarked in the box in a great position but he couldn’t divert his header on target.

With 27 minutes gone, Marine went close again as Hopper drew a save from Harvell after he was played in by O’Hara and as Stanners attempted to gobble up the rebound, the striker was charged down by three scrambling Wimborne defenders.

Ten minutes later, Stanners came agonisingly close to netting his first goal for Webb’s men as a piece of miscontrol in the Magpies back line saw the ball gifted to the youngster.

Stanners slid past goalie Harvell and went to curl home into the empty net from a tight angle but his luck ran out as the ball pinged against the inside of the post and bounced clear, with Morse’s follow-up deflected over the crossbar.

Stanners had another effort tipped away by the Wimborne keeper whilst Dave Bampton’s ferocious volley sailed over the crossbar shortly before the break.

The home side emerged for the second period looking to get back on level terms but shot themselves in the foot with just a few minutes gone as Bampton’s stray pass was seized upon by Jamie Davidson, who gleefully side-footed home to make it 2-0.

But with 55 minutes on the clock, Marine hit back as Chris Taylor smacked a sumptuous free-kick into the area from the left flank and midfielder Harry Etheridge volleyed home at the far post to reduce the deficit.

The home side finally had the bit between their teeth and another purposeful move ended with O’Hara drilling one across the face of goal and with 20 minutes to go, Webb’s men should have gotten back on level terms when Hopper beat his full-back, charged to the byline, and cut the ball back for Etheridge, who got his finish all wrong and let Wimborne off the hook.

Up the other end, substitute Eddie Stevens was forced to clear off the line whilst Harvell beat away Taylor’s curling free-kick as Marine strived for an equaliser.

With just over five minutes to go, Dan Martin blazed past three defenders before seeing his shot blocked on the line by Ian Oliver before the ball eventually fell to Stevens, whose goal-bound volley was deflected to safety, with Oliver again the man in the right place at the right time for the Magpies.

Marine continued to knock on the door at the death, with Martin firing just wide after getting on the end of Hopper’s knock-down but time ran out for the hosts as they slipped to defeat at the Webb’s Wood.

SWINDON SUPERMARINE: Sam Warrell, Kyle Lapham (Eddie Stevens 67), Mark Flanagan, Ross Adams (Cameron Pirie 41), Dave Bampton (C), Chris Taylor, Ryan O’Hara, Harry Etheridge, Luke Hopper, Ryan Stanners (Dan Martin 57), Josh Morse.

Subs not used: Aaron Ferris, Lee Spalding.