SWINDON Spitfires endured another tough afternoon in the FA Women’s Premier League Division One West as they lost 7-1 to Bath outfit Larkhall Athletic at The Elms.

Steve Turner’s side are yet to taste success in their first campaign at Premier League level and it was the fifth time they have conceded seven goals or more in only their seventh game.

Katie Wadey scored the only goal for Spitfires just after half-time, but Turner thought, not for the first time this season, that the harsh scoreline was not a fair reflection on how his team played.

Shorn of five first choice players, the Spirfires boss knew his team would be in for a difficult afternoon, but was proud of how his side kept on going despite the visitors scoring at regular intervals.

“We went in under strength again today,” said Turner.

“We had just one substitute available and that was a development player, as well as having two development players in the team already.

“We lost a couple of early goals down to two mistakes and the third goal came from goalkeeping error and our goal was well-taken just after the start of the second half.

“That was Katie Wadey who is another coming back from injury.

“They got four more before the end of the game.

“It was a tough game and we had four or five starters playing with injuries.

“So today ended up being damage limitation.

“To give credit the team, in every game we have played they haven’t stopped and kept plugging away.

“They’ve been putting in 100 per cent.”

With the defeats totting up harsh lessons are being learned by Spitfires.

Turner has a team with a lot of new players and he feels they are starting to come together, but laments having to test out some of the club’s youngsters who are not ready to play at they level they are being asked to.

“I think the players are developing, especially the younger ones,” he added.

“It’s not really a league where we should be playing them in.

“Most of the teams we are playing are set and have been set for a couple of years.

“Most of the scorelines we’ve had are not true reflections of the games we have actually played. We’re creating chances, we’re not just not clinical enough to finish them off.

“We’ve got a bit of break now and hopefully we can have a bit of a rest and the injuries we’re carrying can sort themselves out.

“Then we can have a better second half of the season.”

Elsewhere Swindon Town Ladies drew 1-1 away at Chichester City.