Dartford boss Tony Burman was left feeling disappointed after his side suffered a shock home 1-0 defeat to Uxbridge in the FA Cup second qualifying round.
The Darts, who until Saturday had not lost against opposition in a lower division in the FA Cup for a decade, threatened early through Elliot Bradbrook and Andy Pugh.
But a goalmouth scramble on 15 minutes fell to Jon-Jo Bates and the midfielder buried his chance to provide Uxbridge with the lead.
After going behind the hosts never looked like getting back into the tie, especially after Tom Gardiner was sent off for two bookable offences.
“It is a cup shock,” Burman said.
“It’s what happens in cup football.
“We warned the team before we started that we were the favourites against a team a couple of divisions below us.
“If you do not score goals, you do not go through in cup games.
“We have had enough chances today to put the game to bed, and then we find ourselves 1-0 down and then in the second half down to 10 men.
“We have just not put the ball in the back of the net and it is as simple as that.”
It was another frustrating afternoon for the Darts in front of goal, with the side struggling to break down the oppositions’ back-line.
“In the last third it was similar to last week,” Burman added.
“You have got to have that desire and commitment to will it in.
“We got behind them enough times and a lot of people are looking for a pass backwards rather than across the goal, and we have got to add that confidence.
“We have not put the ball in the back of the net and that is why we are in the position that we are now.
“We had enough chances but I cannot remember their keeper making a save.”
Burman, 57, made it clear just how disappointed the defeat left him, admitting that it has damaged the club’s confidence.
“It is very quiet, we know that, and we can see the black cloud coming over again,” he said.
“It has not done the confidence of the young guys any good.
“It is a bitter pill to swallow for everyone and it is a massive, massive, blow for the club.”
Dartford will look to get their season back on track when they make the trip to Wealdstone on Saturday.
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