STEVE Robertson thought that Swindon Town Ladies’ trip to Lewes highlighted how much learning his team still have to do.

After seeing a raft of fixtures fall foul of the elements over recent weeks, Town were in action for the first time since December 18 as they made the trip to The Dripping Pan stadium in East Sussex.

However, there was to be no instant return to winning way for Robertson’s side as they were beaten 3-1, with a Town defender diverting Rachel Palmer’s cross into her own net before Dani Lane struck to put the hosts two goals to the good.

Steph Houston halved the deficit late in the first period but Lewes rounded things off through Rebecca Thompson.

“We gave a good enough account of ourselves but I think that we really lacked a bit of maturity in the side,” said Robertson.

“We’ve got a young team. We had 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in there, and you could tell that we did.

“When we made it 2-1, we were rushing things a bit and putting balls into the box when a shorter pass would have been the better option.

“It was all a big learning experience for them but we need to learn quickly if we’re going to pick up points in this division.

“There are some big games coming up against the teams that are below us in the table and we have to be in a position to try and win those.”

Town’s 12th defeat of the season sees them drop down to second-from-bottom in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, with Robertson’s side having been leapfrogged by Queens Park Rangers.

They remain a point ahead of West Ham United, who they meet in March, and they currently aren’t scheduled to play again until they go to Cardiff City on February 26 – however, another clash with West Ham and Coventry United are yet to be rearranged.