The Swans had playoff chasing Swindon Supermarine on the rack for the first half an hour of this game but were unable to sustain their challenge as they fell to a 3-1 defeat.

Slimbridge took an early lead through an Edji Mbunga penalty but after missing a raft of chances, they conceded three goals in nine minutes before the break, and the visitors comfortably played out the second half.

With manager Freddy Ward selecting himself in the team and the rare sight of Jack Twyman as a central defender, Slimbridge started very brightly, and had the best of the early play.

With seven minutes gone, the home side took a deserved lead - Mbunga broke well down the right, and brought two superb stops from Marine Keeper Josh Hill, but as the ball returned to Mbunga for the third time, he was felled by Ryan Morgan and Referee Darren Wilding pointed to the spot. Mbunga stepped up and drilled the spot kick home.

The lively Mbunga had a couple more chances in a sustained spell of pressure, but the second goal stubbornly refused to arrive, as Marine had their first effort on 22 minutes, when Connor Thompson and Callum Parsons combined for an effort which was deflected for a corner.

Suddenly, Marine looked as if they had woken up, and following a short corner, Joe Selman’s header brought a good stop from Ollie Hall as the visitors started to exert some pressure of their own.

On 36 minutes, Marine pulled things level - a Selman cross was superbly swept home by Gray to record the equaliser.

As the visitors again upped a gear, it took a magnificent stop from Hall to deny Brad Hooper, but the momentum had definitely swung to the visitors.

With two minutes to go to half time, the Swans conceded twice - firstly, Thompson headed home Callum Parsons’ cross, and then Selman was tripped in the box by Sam Turl, with Hooper converting the resulting penalty.

The second period was a much scrappier affair - Gray and Hooper continued to pressurise Hall and his back line, and chances for the home side were few and far between - Jamie Martin hit the Marine post in the 77th minute, and there was a brief flurry of Slimbridge pressure in stoppage time, but Marine comfortably played out the second period to take the points.

The Swans host Larkhall Athletic this evening (7.45pm) an on Saturday, the Swans make the short trip to Lodge Road to visit Yate Town (3pm)

Team: Hall, Turl, Payne, Pring, Twyman, Turner, Birkett (Manning 75), Ward, Mbunga (Mace 85), Wilton (Martin 14), Thomas

Supporters Man of the Match: Luke Payne