Exmouth Town were beaten on the opening day of the Southern League Division One South season, as they lost 4-2 by Swindon Supermarine.

A first half brace from Sid Gbla, followed by goals from Frankie Monk and Dan Warre meant that strikes from both Ethan Slater and Isaac McCue were reduced to consolations.

The hosts almost opened the scoring after five minutes, as a Jamie Edge cross was deflected towards goal, but Aaron Dearing made a great save to send it over the bar.

A free-kick was sent over the bar by Ollie Knowles, but Town struggled to get going in the final third early on.

It was an unfortunate moment that led to the Marines first goal, as Jacob Shore was caught in possession on the halfway line, with Sal Abubakar doing the work before squaring to Gbla, who rolled the ball home.

It was another individual error that proved costly, as Knowles lost out in the Town box, with the forward getting his second of the game before half time.

Exmouth had plenty to do in the second half, but it was the hosts who continued to put the pressure on, with Dearing forced into some important stops.

There was an instant impact from the bench, but it would go the way of Supermarine, as Monk got on the end of a brilliant Warre cross.

Town would find a glimmer of hope as Isaac McCue was brought down in the box by Josh Grant, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Unfortunately, a frustrating afternoon for the forward-line was topped-off by Lucas Myers saving Matt Wright’s penalty.

The sadness was short-lived, and replaced by hope, as moments later, Slater would pick the ball up outside the box, and brilliantly curl an effort into the top left-corner. 

Any sign of a late comeback was soon killed off, as Town were caught in possession once again, and Warre was on hand to ensure that the Marines left with all three points.

Exmouth would have an opportunity to redeem themselves from the spot, as Callum Shipton was fouled in the box, and McCue stepped up to calmly convert his penalty.

It was not to be for Town in Swindon, but they look to put things right on Wednesday, as they welcome Portishead Town to the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Line-Up: Dearing, Belsten, Cann (Butcher, 65), Shore (Shipton, 65), Landricombe, Knowles, Kennell (Keates, 79), Slater, L.Steer (Morcom, 70), Griffith (McCue, 70), Wright.