WAYNE Goodison, co-manager at 1874 Northwich, says his players are frustrated that their involvement in the FA Cup is over.
They were unable to harness the momentum from a fight-back on Saturday when they lost an extra preliminary round replay against Burscough last night following extra-time and a penalty shoot-out.
Substitute Taylor Kennerley’s late dismissal for dissent compounded dismay at the end of a contest they had led three times.
“The lads are massively disappointed,” said Goodison.
“But Paul [Bowyer] and I didn’t come into a dressing room of blank faces afterwards – they know what hasn’t gone right.
“I’ve got no issue at all with the effort of every one of them.
“However we’re still making mistakes in areas that we can’t afford to and that’s why it feels a little bit like we’re being punished every time.
“The truth is lots of little errors happen in non-league games all the time, but we’re committing them at moments in matches that are costing us dearly.”
He admitted that 1874 never really felt in control of the contest even when they were in front.
Despite not having to play catch-up against the Linnets, who they had trailed 2-0 inside quarter of an hour at the weekend, he said his team’s overall performance in their previous two games had arguably been better.
“We weren’t good,” he said.
“For whatever reason, we’re not doing the things we know we’re good at and as a result we’re making life harder for ourselves.
“Perhaps there is a bit of anxiety as well, and that was shown by us hitting passes that we didn’t need too.”
Scott McGowan’s first-half penalty was cancelled out early in the second period by Will Doherty’s leveller for Burscough.
The visitors’ best spell of the contest followed but they fell behind again when Mark Jones converted from Kennerley’s free-kick.
However the Linnets rallied, and substitute Matthew Ward was first to a loose ball after goalkeeper Matthew Green made a save with time running out.
Kennerley scored direct from another set-piece before he was sent off as a punishment for being cautioned twice in the same incident for dissent.
Ward then made it 3-3 in farcical circumstances when Sam Freakes’ attempted clearance struck Paul Connor and was diverted into his path.
Goodison said: “Sometimes in games you see things that convince you it just isn’t going to go your way.
“The truth is if you score three goals at home then you expect to win.
“We’ve a training session on Thursday night and there is plenty for us to work on.
“It’s stuff that can be fixed, and we’ll put it right.”
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