Saints were beaten by two last-gasp goals in their second qualifying round replay at Atherstone Town on Tuesday.

The Midland Combination men had led for much of the game and were within three minutes of a penalty shoot-out before their higher-league opponents snatched a 3-1 extra-time victory.

The sides had drawn 1-1 at Banbury Road on Saturday. Saints won through two rounds in this season's Cup - their best ever performance in only their third crack at the famous old competition.

Manager Barry Shearsby said: "I'm very proud of my side. We battled well over two games and it took them until right at the end of extra-time in a replay to beat us - and we were down to ten men in both games.

"We set out our stall to play 4-5-1 and try to nick a result and because we scored so early we were always going to have to do a lot of defending."

"We rode our luck, but that's what you'd expect. There wasn't a single one of my players who couldn't walk off the pitch with their head held high."

He added: "I just hope what we've achieved can spur us on in the league. We are stronger here than we have been for a long time and we're very focused on getting promotion."

"It will be all hands back on deck as we prepare for Saturday."

Chairman Charles Hill agreed. He said: "If anything it's made us more determined to do everything we can to win the league this year."

"We want to start catching up the likes of Atherstone and for that matter Leamington in the pyramid."

He added: "Our team did all we could and we didn't look like a team playing two levels below the side that is second in the Southern Midland Division."

Cup commitments mean Saints haven't played a league game since August 25. They will be looking to build on a record of three wins and two draws in five starts when they host Heath Hayes at Banbury Road tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm).

Saints are at home again on Tuesday against Knowle (7.45pm).