by John Edwards

LEE Sinnott aimed an angry broadside at his Altrincham players after a bitterly-disappointing FA Cup exit at Croft Park on Sunday.

Alty had their sights on a second-round place, as they headed to the north-east, but were left humiliated and embarrassed by a Blyth Spartans side two divisions below them.

Speaking straight after a shock 4-1 defeat, a despairing Sinnott said:

"The quality of our defending has cost us the tie, and it was apparent from the first 10 minutes. The team that goes to Lincoln and defends like they do and then four days later comes to Blyth and defends like that .. it’s chalk and cheese.

"Did I warn them what to expect before they went out? I’m sick and tired of telling them. I will take it in the throat every time. I get the catcalls as manager and whatever else.

"But no-one surely thinks that before Witton three years ago and Trafford last season, I say to them: “Just go out and mess around a bit, and we’ll go through anyway.

"I’m fed up of telling them what’s at stake and what to expect, but if they don’t grasp the nettle, this is what happens. I’m sure they will be better at Telford on Wednesday, but the damage has been done, and you can’t repair it.

"If you start like we did, it doesn’t matter if you are in the Subbuteo League, you are going to be in trouble. Our defending was all over the shop, and the amount of times we dithered down the right hand side in the first 10 minutes gave them a lift straightaway. I’m trying to refrain from going too far, but it just wasn’t good enough."

Centre-back Luca Havern summed up the players’ contrite mood by tweeting: ‘Apologies to the travelling fans, big performance needed on Wednesday (at Telford) from the boys.'

* Alty's fund raising for the new community sports hall was given a massive boost after the Manchester United Foundation donated a copy of the Manchester United Opus - Icons Edition for auction. The limited edition 850-page book looks at the evolution of United from humble origins to their worldwide renown today. It will be auctioned at the sportsman's dinner at The Cresta Court Hotel on Friday, November 14, though bids can also be submitted to office@altrinchamfccsh.com.