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I decided to start this match in a defensive role of 4-5-1 because we were playing a premiership club...oh my, do I wish I had hindsight!!

On paper I probably played 4 out of my 5 strongest defenders - problem was that they had never played together before in that role. Valley got a goal in the 20th minute with a deflection that beat Mat in goal.

They scored again 10 minutes later and I should really have changed things around then - but with both my subs only 75% fit (optimistic 75% at that) I didn't want to bring them on then to find they couldn't make the whole 90 - or more if the scores were equal at the end.

We held out at half time and went in 2 - 0 down.

Second half saw both subs come on, one Wrighty going back into his left back role...and 15 minutes later saw ZZ go into his left wing role. TIS put us back into 3-5-2 and it showed! Cricks were the better team in the 2nd half and their keeper made some great stops to prevent us scoring.

Gaz Willows had chance after chance stopped or wide and it took a pass from him to find Steve Parry running through and he slotted it home to bring us one back. We kept the pressure on and I thought that we were going to bring it level but the final whistle blew before we could bury it.

A valant performance by the majority of the players and it's a shame to go out the cup due to a tactical mistake by the manager - but I'll live with it and learn from it.