SWINDON Supermarine lost 2-1 to fellow Southern League Premier South relegation rivals Dorchester Town on Saturday.

Lee Spalding’s men never got going on the artificial pitch as two goals from Alfie Stanley consigned Marine to their 15th league defeat.

Harry Williams netted a late reply for the Swindon side, but no reward left them in 16th place with 10 games remaining.

Town started more brightly and could have taken the lead in the seventh minute when Olaf Koszela broke through. However, the Dorchester man scuffed his shot straight at Martin Horsell.

Following a Stanley effort that Horsell pushed around the post, a cluster of set-pieces midway through the first half resulted in the game’s opening goal.

In the 27th minute, a short-corner routine saw the ball floated to the back post where Stanley buried a volley past a helpless Horsell.

Marine responded with Matt Britton having an close-range effort saved before a long-range strike from Henry Spalding was superbly kept out by Jack Bycroft prior to the break.

In the second half. Spalding spooned an effort over the bar as Marine continued to be frustrated.

That angst grew further when a short back pass towards Horsell from Britton was intercepted by Yemmi Odubade. The Dorchester striker nipped in front of an on-rushing Horsell before being brought down and winning a penalty for his side.

Stanley sent Horsell the wrong way and dealt a crushing blow to Marine’s hopes of taking all three points.

Stanley hit the bar in the 67th minute during his quest for a hat-trick, but he would come up short as the third and final goal of the game was scored by Marine.

In second-half injury time, Williams received the ball inside the box - to the right of goal - before turning and firing a low shot past Bycroft to give Spalding’s men some kind of consolation.

Elsewhere, in Southern League Division One South, Highworth Town were thumped 4-0 by Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday.

Two goals either side of the break made it a tough afternoon for Ross Adams’ side, who dropped to 13th.

In the Hellenic League Premier Division, Royal Wootton Bassett Town claimed a scrappy 2-1 derby victory over Calne Town on Saturday.

It was Calne who would strike first after Jamie Walters found a way past Eddie Cavanagh early on. But goals either side of the break from John Mills and Alfie Presley helped Bassett maintain Calne’s Hellenic League struggles.