SWINDON Supermarine stalwart Kyle Lapham admitted he and his teammates were in a state of shock after losing 3-0 away at bottom side Fleet Town.

A misplaced back pass from captain Dave Bampton gifted the hosts the lead after only nine minutes and, try as they might, Marine couldn’t work themselves a route back into the contest as the Division One South & West basement boys added two more to claim what could prove to be a vital victory in their fight for survival.

Defender Lapham insisted they didn’t take their beleaguered opponents lightly going into the contest but accepted Marine simply struggled to get going against a team they should have been able to beat.

“Goals change games really and an uncharacteristic error from Bamps (Dave Bampton) put them one up and from then on we’ve pushed for the equaliser which never came,” he said.

“It was an off day really but we are fully aware we can’t get beaten by teams like that if we want to get promoted.

“We’ve dominated and had chances but they’ve hit us on the break to score three goals, and I don’t think the scoreline flattered them, they did deserve to win on the day.

“We need to be picking up at least a point or ideally three from every game between now and the end of the season and to go somewhere like Fleet and lose has shocked us. We have to take responsibility for it from the manager down to the players who weren’t in the squad, that’s what you have to do if you want to move on and put this right.

“I don’t think we underestimated them at all and we approached it in the right way, but the first goal changed the game and we were tight and rushed in possession. They capitalised on a mistake and stayed deep and narrow which meant we couldn’t break them down.

“I don’t think this will happen again because we will put things right.”

Marine were without influential Swindon Town loanee Alex Ferguson for the game, with the midfielder missing due to injury, but Lapham is hoping the youngster can return for Tuesday’s clash with Evesham.

“At the moment we have games every few days and the next one can’t really come quick enough to be honest because we want to put it right,” he said.

“We missed Fergie this week because he was out injured but hopefully he can be back for Tuesday and we can put things right.”