SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb was left stunned by the way his side capitulated to crash out of the FA Trophy with a 5-0 defeat at Taunton Town.

The game was over at half-time at the same ground where Marine saw their Southern League Division One South & West play-off hopes ended abruptly last season.

The hosts took the lead in the 16th minute when Craig Veal, returning to the side, converted a pass from skipper Brett Trowbridge.

A volley with the left foot from Pierce Mitchell doubled Taunton’s advantage five minutes before half-time before Veal netted his second to put them in a commanding position at the break.

Ollie Chamberlain added Taunton’s fourth from close range after 62 minutes before Veal completed his hat-trick to wrap up a miserable afternoon in Somerset for Webb and his side.

“It’s been a tough week all-in-all,” he said, having also seen his side lose at home to Hereford in the league.

“We have had a lot of plaudits this season about the way we play and some of the results and the performances of the team but on Saturday, I was surprised.

“You don’t expect to see the team, apart from Connor Johns, who has kept the scoreline respectable, have such a bad day from two to 11.

“We just weren’t collectively good enough. We talked about it after the game, when you are winning games like last weekend when we go to Bridgwater and win 5-0 and then a week later, you have lost 3-0 at home and then gone away to Taunton, who are a good side, and lose 5-0.

“They are flying high, you could see it in their confidence. I think they are six unbeaten and you could see they were on a high and competing for places for next Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Barrow.

“They were dominant and up for it and we just never reached any level to compete, which was a surprise.”

Marine return to league action as they face a tough trip away to Salisbury on Tuesday night and Webb is calling on his side to be more resilient moving forward.

“What we have got to get better at, if we are not at our best, staying in the game for longer than we did on Saturday,” he added.

“The game was virtually over at half-time being 3-0 down. We have got to get better at that. It doesn’t matter if you are 18 or 35, collectively, you have to get together and make sure you stay in the game for longer.

“It was a big shock to the system for me but they are a young side and it is about what happens when things don’t quite go our way.”