ASSISTANT boss Ashley Vincent admitted Worcester City had exited the FA Vase "with a whimper" but insisted his troops had not ducked the challenge.

City lost 2-0 to Desborough Town in the second round without registering a meaningful effort on goal at the Victoria Ground, dashing dreams of pursuing a Wembley final.

“I am disappointed,” said Vincent.

“The gaffer (John Snape) and I are people who believe in defending our players because no one goes out to put in a poor performance or show what might look like a lack of effort.

“That doesn’t happen. No one does not try but we were poor and well off it.

“This was a chance to have a run in a competition that is winnable for teams at our level. At the moment all of us backroom staff are struggling to put our finger on where it went wrong.

“We had good players on the pitch with two forwards out there and still didn’t have a shot. Their keeper has not made a save and for a team that I keep saying has quality above this level that is not good enough.

“It is not an us-and-them situation with the players, though. We win and lose together.

“I am unsure as to whether we got it right (tactically) so I am upset with myself. It also upset me to hear (from the crowd) that we weren’t even trying.

“I know that doesn’t happen. One thing I won’t have – and I know the gaffer won’t either – is that being angled at a side of ours, that we lacked enthusiasm.

“You always get 100 per cent, you just don’t always get people who are switched on and then games turn and you can end up ambling along.

“It would be fair to say we went out with a whimper but not through a lack of effort, more sharpness and imagination.

“That's where the hurt and anger is for me and by that I mean from all of us, top to bottom.

“The gaffer made the point on Saturday that this could be our last chance of going to Wembley. Any one of us might not get this opportunity again in a good team like we have."

Vincent revealed Tyler Weir dropping to the bench had been down to the player suffering flu-like symptoms over the past week.

"We made the call because we were not sure how long we could get out of him," said Vincent.

"Tyler is one of our best players, if not our best player and the first thing that slaps me in the face in hindsight is to have your best players on the pitch."