The disappointment of Saturday's FA Cup defeat was still in evidence when Hornets Review caught up with John Maggs this afternoon to reflect on our dramatic 1st Qualifying Round exit at the hands of Tooting & Mitcham.

"I'm gutted, absolutely gutted ! We didn't deserve to lose the game and even (joint Tooting managers) Billy Smith & George Wakeling said we were the better side. I wouldn't have minded so much if we'd been outplayed but the lads gave a good account of themselves and I think we can count ourselves very hard done by. But that's what the FA Cup's about, I suppose. Matches can be decided by a piece of brilliance, a defensive mistake or a refereeing decision. Unfortunately we were done by the latter and that's what really hurts."

A replay looked on the cards until Rob Tolfrey was dismissed in injury time for an apparent stamp on an opponent, an incident that saw the hosts edge in front from the subsequent spot-kick and they secured themselves a trip to either Canvey Island or Hitchin Town with a 4th goal in the dying seconds of the game.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing when the ref blew for a penalty," continued Maggs. "Rob's gone up with their fella, they've both gone to ground and then Rob's gone and bowled the ball out to Mark Knee and the ref's allowed play to continue. Suddenly he's blown his whistle, spoken to his linesman and my goalkeeper's off and they've got a penalty in the 91st minute ! Not one of their players or supporters appealed.

There's only one person who can tell you what happened and that's Rob himself. He's admitted that he trod on the guy when he got up but he's adamant that it was accidental. Unfortunately its pointless the club appealing against a ban because, without video evidence, we can't prove anything so it looks like I'm going to lose my first choice 'keeper for 2 games.

We're all disappointed to be out of the FA Cup so soon, especially after the success we've had over the past couple of seasons, but I couldn't knock my players as they put everything into it. Having said that, we have got to better at holding on to a lead. We did ever so well to get back in to the game after going behind so early but, no sooner had we got in front than we let them back in. I wasn't too happy with their equaliser either, what with Lee Carney having a head injury but a similar thing's happened to one of their players and the referee let us play on."