Welwyn Garden City boss Marc Weatherstone felt his side had missed a golden opportunity to advance deep into the latter stages of the FA Cup qualifying round - as they were beaten away to Waltham Abbey in a preliminary round replay.
The 3-1 loss had followed a 2-2 draw at Herns Way on Saturday, and even had the Citizens going in front after three minutes through Bailey Stevenson, pouncing after an Ethan Rookard shot was only partially cleared.
But Abbey were level by the break and wrapped up the victory in the final 20 minutes.
"I thought we were poot to be honest," admitted Weatherstone. "We didn't showcase what we're about, we didn't showcase enough winners, enough men, and we were very lethargic.
"We’ve played a lot of games at the start of this season, we had a replay in the round before and a replay tonight.
"They're a good outfit, a really good outfit, but we had a good start and scored to go one in front.
"But maybe the shape was wrong? I started with it because on Saturday we changed and it worked.
"Maybe I was over thinking everything and I think as a manager you can overthink, but we went back to what we’re used to and I felt they were getting down the sides of us a lot.
"Half time I changed it and I felt we got a foothold in the game ,I thought we were a bit more secure and it stopped them getting down the sides.
"But we weren’t really threatening their goal and our quality on the ball wasn't great. We were going too long and their back four was superb compared to ours.
"So I’m really disappointed in the result because I felt like we had an opportunity in the next round, going to a step five team.
"We've been very unfortunate in the last few years, always getting drawn away against good teams and this was an opportunity.
"We had to get through Waltham Abbey who are a very strong team, and I’m not disrespecting [Haverhill Rovers] because anyone can beat anyone, but it was just going to be a respite from teams at our level or above.
"And it was an opportunity for us to get a bit money in for the club, a cup run can do that, but it wasn’t to be.
"I can lose as long as it is in the right manner and I just don't think we showed enough winning spirit to compete."
And the loss came despite the fine playing surface at Capershotts, although Weatherstone felt if it was any better, it would have only aided the home side.
"This is an unbelievable for a step four set-up, it's probably one of the best in step four and probably higher," he said.
"It was maybe a little bit dry and sticky, I think their hose pipe had burst so they couldn’t get enough water on it to make it zip, but I think that would have only improved their passing rather than us.
"We were too slow, we didn’t have enough options, didn’t have a picture and even in possession, we were just really bad.
"That isn’t how you win football games."
