BRAINTREE Town's momentous FA Cup run ended in disappointment at the Amlin Stadium on Tuesday evening with the 3-0 defeat by Tranmere Rovers.
The current npower League One leaders proved too slick for the Iron's part-timers on the night in this delayed first round tie but Rovers' manager Ronnie Moore admitted the final scoreline flattered his team.
"Make no mistake we came here do a thoroughly professional job and we did but it was really hard work all evening and yes, the final scoreline did flatter us," he said. "I knew that with Alan (Devonshire) in charge they would be a well organised footballing side and difficult to beat which they were and full credit to them because they made it difficult for us.
"I think out fitness and class showed in the end but it could have been different had they equalised when we went a goal up."
Devonshire said: "I'm disappointed because we started well, had two great chances to equalise but just didn't take them.
"We then lost three of our key players – James Mulley (29 minutes leg injury), Dean Wells 38 minutes breathing difficulties) and Sean Marks (67 minutes gashed forehead) – and that made it even harder for us and cost us any chance of causing an upset and winning.
"We subsequently lost our rhythm and started to hump long balls forward near the end but that's not our game.
"But I'm proud of the team, they didn't let us down and we had a go and with a little bit of luck we could have taken something from the game.
"I am disappointed with conceding their second and third goal, which were down to individual mistakes by our two centre-halves but I'm not going to have a go at them or the others because all the players did their best on the night.
"Had Luke Daley scored with either of his two chances when he came on and also Dan Holman was so close with his two first half efforts it might have been a different story.
"I think we had six or seven players really on their game but four others weren't on song and you can't afford that against such teams."
Rovers' more clinical finishing saw them take the lead on 29 minutes when Cole Stockton saw his volleyed shot from close range beaten out by keeper Danny Naisbitt, but Joe Thompson followed up to bundle the ball home.
They added a second on 53 minutes when Stockton showed class by stealing past Iron defender Matt Paine and firing home a low 25 yard shot past Naisbitt.
The game, played at a frenetic pace throughout, ended in the 90th minute with a third for Rovers through Max Power who found space and time to fire home past Naisbitt with several Iron players understandably showing tiredness in the final 10 minutes.
Devonshire added: "They're top of their league and it showed because they were hard to break down but we gave them a run for their money.
"Our minds are now focussed on the next game at Grimbsy in the league on Saturday where Marks and Mulley will certainly be unfit and miss the trip although Wells will be okay and cup tied Alan Massey will be available.
"Ryan Peters is back from injury too and we must forget about the cup excitement and concentrate on reaching our target of 50 points – we have 20 points at the moment and must stay on course."
