YATE TOWN dropped out of the play-off places after crashing to defeat against fellow promotion hopefuls Swindon Supermarine.

Jake Jackson put the Bluebells on course for a fourth straight win when he headed in the opening goal after 27 minutes, but they struggled to cope with a potent Marine attack, and an Ashley Edenborough brace, sandwiched by Aaron Ferris’ goal, ensured the visitors took the points.

Yate also had three penalty appeals turned down as they suffered just their second defeat in their last 12 games.

With Jake Cox and Connor Clifford suspended, Sam Kamara started in the unfamiliar position of left back for Yate.

Jackson returned to the side up front and could’ve scored within 20 seconds after Jordan Ricketts and Mike Bryant linked well to make an opening for him, but he blazed over from 15 yards.

Marine had an even better chance when Josh Parsons found himself one with Martin Horsell after Yate were caught out by a ball over the top, but the goalkeeper made a good block and Billy Fletcher got back on the line to keep out the striker’s second attempt.

The visitors’ front two caused Yate problems with Edenborough drilling a low shot across the face of goal.

However, it was Yate who took the lead. James Harmer whipped in a delightful inswinging cross after his corner came back to him and Jackson glanced it into the net.

Yate were buoyed by the goal and Bradley Abraham fired just wide from 30 yards, while Lewis Haldane brought a low save out of Sam Warrell, dragged another effort wide and went down in the box claiming he had been pulled back by Chris Taylor with the referee unmoved.

Swindon equalised three minutes before half-time, though, when Edenborough received the ball at his feet just inside the box, before turning and firing a low shot that was too powerful for Horsell as it squirmed into the bottom corner.

Yate started the second half brightly. Ricketts made a strong run down the left and pulled the ball back from the byline to Jackson, who sliced his shot. The ball didn’t trouble the goal but James Harmer kept it in play and found Mike Bryant, who got the ball stuck under his feet before shouting for a penalty as he went down under the challenge of Warrell with Ricketts eventually firing over the bar.

Marine went ahead against the run of play on 59 minutes when Parsons fed Ferris, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, and the substitute beat Horsell with a low shot, with Joe Chandler putting it into the roof of the net as he attempted a last-ditch clearance.

Yate boss Rob Cousins wasted little time in throwing on an extra striker when he summoned Jordan Rogers from the bench, but their task was made harder soon after when Marine increased their lead on 72 minutes.

Ferris turned provider this time as he played the ball into Edenborough, who spun away from Fletcher with a superb back-heel before slotting the ball low across Horsell and into the net.

Yate rallied. Ricketts’ corner was headed over by Bryant on the stretch and they had a third – and their loudest – penalty appeal down when they felt Swindon captain Dave Bampton played the ball with his hand while on the ground with Haldane ready to pounce.

Haldane shot narrowly wide on the turn from just outside the box and Ricketts did likewise two minutes later but Yate were unable to find a way through.

Yate Town: Horsell, Kamara, Tippins, Chandler, Fletcher, Abraham, Harmer (Rogers, 69), Bryant (c), Jackson (Meaker, 86), Haldane, Ricketts. Subs not used: Harrison, Dunn, Thomas.

Ref: Mr S Wales.

Att: 217.

Gazette star man: Mike Bryant.