A FIRST cup final loss as manager was one that cut deep for Pershore's Danny Janes but he is already looking forward to seeing his team's reaction.
The Plums were disappointing in their 2-0 Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup final on Tuesday evening as Mangotsfield took their chances in the 2-0 victory.
Janes believed his side were the better team over the two legs but had zero complaints about the overall result.
READ | Crosbie double downs Pershore in Floodlit Cup Final second-leg
Full-time | @PTFC88 0-2 @MangotsfieldUtd. The visitors win the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup. A really disappointing night for the hosts who really struggled to create despite their dominance with the ball. Mangos stood firm and Jaydn Crosbie struck with his two chances!
— Marcello Cossali-Francis (@Mcossalifrancis) March 21, 2023
"That's our first loss in a final, it's not a nice feeling but we have to win and lose as a team so we will move on and stay positive," said Janes.
"I felt performance merited a victory. I do not think we were great but I still thought we were the better side but we did not take our chances so I have no issue with the result and Mangotsfield deserved to win.
"It will be interesting to see how the players will pick themselves up now as they are not used to losing games so they'll have to show a bit of character.
"I have always said that the league is a priority and I understand that but the cups are just as important to us so this result really does hurt.
"You want to win as many cups as possible so we are gutted that we haven't done enough to deserve it over two legs."
Pershore remain in a position to win three cup competitions and a league title, so all is very much not lost.
They host Wimbourne All Stars in the Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup quarter-final on Thursday before another last-eight match with Fairford Town takes place on Saturday in the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup.
The Plums remain six points clear with two games in hand at the top of the Hellenic Division One table with eight matches remaining and Janes is confident his team will go on and secure promotion with a title win.
"If we lose our position from here and slip-up, it will be a disaster and a massive failure on our part," he added.
"And the only way that happens is if players don't perform so it's down to them. We are in the driving seat, we are in a great position and it's now just down to the players.
"But I cannot see us dropping off now but the pressure is very much on."
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