Dover Athletic boss Jake Leberl refuses to use threadbare squad as main reason behind FA Trophy exit as he reflects on third-round 4-1 defeat against Hornchurch

Manager Jake Leberl refused to use Dover’s threadbare squad as the main reason behind their FA Trophy defeat on Saturday.

Whites exited the competition at the third-round stage, losing 4-1 to National League South leaders Hornchurch as their five-game winning run ended.

Defender Harry Gibbs’ effort, coupled with a Luke Baptiste own goal, left them 2-0 down at half-time.

Dover fell further behind when Angelo Balanta found the net for the league-leading visitors and, although midfielder George Wilkinson pulled one back, substitute Henry Sandat also struck for the Urchins.

Among those sidelined for Dover were George Nikaj (hamstring), Ruben Soares-Junior (groin), Decarrey Sheriff (knee) and Alfie Matthews (groin) while Rolando Onu, Bivesh Gurung and Finley Marjoram were cup-tied.

But Leberl said: “It was a priority. We wanted to have a really good run in the Trophy.

“It’s a great competition. It’s good for everyone at the club but we were up against it.

“We had quite a few boys out so it was always going to be difficult. I felt they were very strong. They came into this on the back of a couple of defeats.

“Obviously, we knew they were very strong from when we played them earlier in the season when I felt we did very well (in a goalless league draw). They’re very good at what they do.

“From set-pieces, they’re very dangerous. We had a few early warning signs where they went close. We had spoken about that before the game but I just felt one was coming. There it was. They got one - and then they got another.

“The second one is disappointing. A minute before half-time is a terrible time to concede a goal.

"Baps is doing a job he’s unfamiliar with, he has got caught in the wrong position and he’s flicked it in. If you go in at