Canvey soccer boss Jeff King refused to be downhearted after seeing his side's love affair with non-league soccer's top knockout competition -- the FA Umbro Trophy -- come to an end.

Gulls went West to take on a Yeovil Town side lying second in the Nationwide Conference and, before a 3616 crowd, put up a magnificent fight before losing 2-1.

King said: "There's no way I'm down -- and I've just told the players there's no time for them to feel sorry for themselves.

"They gave it everything tonight and we matched the second best non-league team in the country on their current League standing all the way -- in fact we played the better football.

"At the end of the day we didn't get the rub of the green and that's something you badly need in knockout matches."

Published Wednesday, March 6, 2002