BRACKNELL Town FC were left “devastated” after crashing to a shock 1-0 defeat at Henley in their Reading Senior Cup quarter-final on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

“We are bitterly disappointed as it was a game we dominated from start to finish,” said manager Mark Tallentire.

“Man for man we were the better team, but we didn’t take our opportunities when they come along. They (Henley) only had a couple in the whole game and we got caught by a sucker punch right at the end.

“The boys are devastated.”

It was the second time in less than a week that the Robins had bowed out of a cup competition to Hellenic Division One East opposition, having lost 2-1 in extra time to Didcot Reserves in the semi-finals of the Supplementary Cup the previous Monday.

Tallentire added: “It is disappointing as I feel for the lads because I wanted them to reach a cup final as a reward for all the efforts they put into accruing the points to stay in the league.

“I felt they deserved that little bit of reward but it wasn’t to be.

“But, looking at what has gone on since I came to this club we have moved on a million miles. 

“I have got to pay tribute to my players for achieving the main job of staying in the league (Premier Division) which they achieved by stringing together a very good run of results.

“Perhaps had this week’s two cup ties come along when we were the middle of that run then we might have done better.

“In this game (at Henley) and the one against Didcot, we just could not raise those levels to where we have been, which was unfortunate.”

Tallentire continued: “My players battled away, but ended up getting nothing and we are all gutted about it as it means our season is now done and dusted.

“But the chairman is happy, as we are still in the Premier Division which is what he brought me here to do.

“We are now going to take a long rest and go again next season.

“With what is going on at the club, it is exciting times.”