Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb reacts to FA Trophy penalty shoot-out exit against Bishop’s Stortford

Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb felt they “let the club down” after being knocked out of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

The Fleet lost 5-3 on penalties to Bishop’s Stortford following a 1-1 draw, which saw the visitors equalise in stoppage time having stayed in the game thanks to the heroics of keeper Jack Giddens.

It’s a second cup exit to lower-league opposition for Kutrieb this season after losing to Slough in the FA Cup, but even a better performance this time around failed to mask his frustration.

“We let the club down,” said Kutrieb. “It’s sort of easy to get some money from cup competitions but we let ourselves down massively, especially today.

“How we played was not important, the result was important and we went out. That’s criminal.

“If the game ends up seven or eight-one that’s a fair reflection but if you can’t defend in the last minute from the last set-piece then we’re in big trouble. It sums us up perfectly, that’s exactly where we are at this moment in time.

“What annoys me the most is that we are not able to score a second goal and the game is over. We had so many chances, not even half-chances, but regardless if you don’t score a second goal then you need to make sure you don’t concede.

“We didn’t get the result and that’s the only thing that matters at this moment in time. I’m very frustrated obviously as everyone can imagine.

“It’s penalties so it will always be the case that someone misses one and you lose the game. I was sure that we would save a minimum one, maybe two, and then it’s a different game but they took their penalties very well.”

On his team’s failure to convert the many chances that came their way, particularly in the second half, Kutrieb said: “It’s a little bit switching off, it’s a