QPR Ladies' poor start to the season continued with a surprise home defeat to newly promoted Yeovil Town on Sunday.

Following on from their draw on the opening weekend, Rangers were expected to pick up what should have been a fairly comfortable three points, but the outcome was nothing short of disastrous and the R's now find themselves five points behind the early pacesetters.

Despite having a depleted squad to choose from, the R's starting XI on the day should have had more than enough about them to gain a result against a fairly ordinary Yeovil side.

Rangers started well and very nearly went ahead as early as the fifth minute, when Camilla Ray flicked on a long throw-in into the box by Mel Bidewell, but Katie Aherne failed to make contact with the ball from close range.

Yeovil were content to allow Rangers to have the lion's share of possession whilst they carried out their game plan of playing on the break. Their patience was nearly rewarded on several occasions in the half, when the R's defence were caught square and beaten by the long ball over the top.

Only the alertness, good positioning and quick-thinking of Kirsty Morley in the Rangers goal prevented the visitors from taking the lead, albeit against the run of play.

In the 30th minute, a volley by Danielle Richards - following another Bidewell throw-in - flew inches past the post, before Katie Aherne went close on the stroke of half-time.

Despite the best efforts of the impressive Emma Treanor in the heart of the hosts' midfield, the R's lost their way at the start of the second half.

However, Yeovil still failed to create any chances of real note, but you could sense that if they were to get something out of the game, it would be due to Rangers own doing.

In the 70th minute, Morley was called on twice in quick succession to pull off miraculous saves, but she was powerless to prevent the visitors from taking the lead five minutes later, when the R's defence were caught square yet again, allowing Yeovil to open the scoring.

Failing to learn their lesson, Rangers gifted the same player a second goal three minutes later, in exactly the same circumstances.

Manager Martino Chevannes said: "To say that I am disappointed with our start to the season is an understatement. I and the players know that we are far better than this - you don't become a bad team overnight.

"Some of our players need to take a good look at themselves and the way that they have performed over the past two weeks, which for some has been very poor.

"There is no doubt that the squad needs strengthening but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find available players of the required standard for the level of football that we are competing in.

"In the meantime we have got to work hard to put things right on the pitch and stop the rot before we are to far adrift to mount a serious promotion challenge this season.

"We all have to want to work towards the same goal and be prepared to give our all for 90 minutes of every single game."