SWINDON Supermarine boss Dave Webb was left to rue two costly defensive mishaps as Taunton Town came from behind to snatch all three points in a 2-1 victory.

The visitors were slow out of the blocks at the Viridor Stadium but weathered an early Taunton storm to take the lead against the run of play.

Luke Hopper charged down the left channel before cutting inside to curl a sublime effort into the top corner from the edge of the box on 25 minutes.

It took Town just three minutes to respond, however, and they drew level when Marine failed to clear a set-piece. The ball was worked back into the box and deflected past keeper Sam Warrell into the net off Aaron Ward-Baptiste.

The two sides remained level at the break but Taunton took the lead seven minutes after the restart when Steve Murray capitalised on a slip at the back to fire past Warrell.

Marine had chances to restore parity before the final whistle but Josh Morse saw their best effort come back off the bar as the home side held on.

“It was always going to be a tough game. They are one of the form sides in the league and I think that win has put them up to second now,” said a frustrated Webb.

“They have a bit of quality in the front areas and we knew they were always likely to cause us a few problems.

“We didn’t start as well as we would have wanted and they had a few chances that they squandered.

“That was a bit of a let off and we managed to get ourselves in front. When you do that it’s really important in the next ten minutes that you don’t give them anything.

“They had a set-piece which we should have cleared but the ball just deflected into the net. People say it was offside but I’m not sure.

“It was a shame for Sam as some of the saves he made on Saturday were outstanding. He was at his very best and showed what we all know he is capable of.

“We were happy to have got to half-time at 1-1 but then there was a slip at the back and they scored with their only real chance of the second half.

“We probably deserved to take home a point having got to half-time level. It wasn’t a bad performance but there are just a few things here and there that are costing us at the moment.”

Marine will look to bounce back to winning ways when they host a Sholing side who are one place below them in the table on Tuesday.