IVYBRIDGE Town suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat in their South West Peninsula League visit to Plymouth Marjon last night [Tuesday].

Despite providing most of the pressure, Ivybridge were trailing 2-0 at the interval with Marjon grabbing goals through Reece Brown in the 12th minute and Scott Parsons in the 22nd.

Ivybridge’s efforts went unrewarded with a couple of confident penalty appeals being turned down.

There was further controversy after the break with Brown scoring in the 55th minute despite appearing to be in an offside position.

Ivybridge could not have any complaints, however, when Brown went on to complete his hat-trick with a crisp shot from a well worked corner in the 77th minute.

The visitors deserved credit for sticking to their task and gained some reward with a consolation goal from Josh Tattersall ten minutes from time.

Ivybridge manager Darren Stewart admitted: ‘We started off very sloppily and gifted them two goals.

‘But after we conceded the second goal there was a good reaction for the last 20 minutes of the first half. We hit the woodwork and there was a definite case for a penalty, if not two.

‘We started the second half really well and there was a dubious goal, which we thought was offside, when we went down to 3-0 and it was then game over really.’

Stewart will be looking for his side to put Tuesday’s disappointment behind them as they prepare for the next match, away to Cullompton on Saturday [August 28], but he faces the prospect of ringing the changes because of the unavailability of a number of players.

Apart from the long-term hamstring injury to left back Jake Lane there are other players ruled out by work commitments, holidays and Covid.

Stewart explained: ‘We have had a good chat with the lads to keep the spirits up. We have got to stay together as a group.

‘We have a lot of unavailability on Saturday so there will be a lot of changes to the squad but I am confident the players who come in will give it 100 per cent and try to turn things around.’

Following Saturday’s trip to Cullompton, Ivybridge will be back in action at Erme Valley with a home match against Torpoint on Wednesday, September 1 (7.30pm).