Swindon Supermarine boss John Murphy waved goodbye to his honeymoon period on Saturday, as his side crashed to their first league defeat under his stewardship.

Marine twice led, but defended poorly and eventually fell to a 4-2 defeat at mid-table Bedworth United.

Manager Murphy was left flabbergasted by a defensive performance that recaptured the greyest days of Clive Maguire's ill feted reign.

The new Marine boss said: "I wasn't disappointed with the overall performance, we played well at times and created plenty of good opportunities, but we made some terrible individual errors.

"The defending was not of the standard required at this level.

"We might get away with it in the Hellenic League, but in this division you get punished."

It could have been a different story after Murphy's side enjoyed a dream start. Keith Knight who finalised his move from Clevedon prior to kick-off delivered a first minute corner on to the head of Adie Roper, who made no mistake from five yards.

Unfortunately, Marine could only hold the lead for two minutes before keeper Paul Haines flapped at a cross and Chris Partridge forced home a quickfire equaliser.

Both sides continued to create chances, before Marine again took the initiative.

Striker Tate Hulbert back in favour under Murphy displayed his renewed confidence by volleying home a fine 35th minute effort.

But again, Marine failed to consolidate, and within five minutes Adam Webster stroked home the host's second leveller.

Bedworth gradually began to exert themselves after the break, managing to grab the lead for the first time on 57 minutes.

Goalkeeper Haines was again at fault, after failing to hold a Chris Goodman shot. Scott McGregor was on hand to punish the Marine shot stopper.

Murphy responded by throwing on midfielder Tom Jones.

The veteran playmaker had been relegated to the bench to make way for the arrival of Knight, but Jones failed to provide the spark that Marine craved and the visitors soon conceded a fourth.

Bedworth player-boss Ian Drewitt sent Ben Stean clear, and the midfielder chipped a stranded Haines from 25 yards to finish the visitors off.

With nearest rivals Cirencester winning for the second Saturday running, Murphy's men find themselves seven points adrift of the pack.

It is a precarious position, and a favourable result at home to Mangotsfield on Wednesday seems a must.