Lordswood manager Nicky Southall proud of his players after record FA Cup run ends against Sittingbourne in front of TV cameras and a record crowd

Nicky Southall felt nothing but pride at the end of Lordswood’s history-making FA Cup run.

Southall’s Southern Counties East side, playing in the second qualifying round for the first time, lost 1-0 at home to Sittingbourne of Isthmian South East.

But it was a time for celebration after an FA Cup campaign to remember, culminating in a record crowd of 745 at Martyn Grove and an appearance on live TV.

Southall wasn’t sure how his players would react after losing 5-0 to Faversham in the league on Tuesday night.

But they cleared their heads to push higher-division opponents all the way in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, losing to Henry Sinai’s 62nd-minute header from a corner.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of my players,” said Lords boss Southall.

“We took a really good team in Sittingbourne - strong, athletic, a lot of pace and a lot of height - right to the wire and that’s what I wanted to do.

“For me, it looked like being a replay.

“The only disappointing thing is their smallest player has scored the goal. We forget to mark one of the smallest players in the box, who’s just as lethal as a tall player.

“But, overall, I’m really delighted with the performance, especially after Tuesday to take a really good team to the wire.

“It isn’t easy coming off a 5-0 defeat. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if they were going to sulk or who was going to turn up.

“But we had a game plan, we went into a mid-block in terms of defence.

“I didn't want to play too high a line so they can drop balls over the top because they’ve got speed and quality.

“And I didn’t want to just sit on the edge of the box, because one mistake or a deflection or somebody switches off and it’s in the back of the net.

Report: Lordswood 0-1 Sittingbourne