BRANTHAM Colts boss, Stuart Ward, was proud of his players for their second-half onslaught in a full-blooded FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup semi-final clash at AFC Sudbury yesterday.

Carl Marston

BRANTHAM Colts boss, Stuart Ward, was proud of his players for their second-half onslaught in a full-blooded FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup semi-final clash at AFC Sudbury yesterday.

Brantham missed out on a trip to Anfield for the final, but Ward was delighted with his side's performance in windswept conditions.

“The lads are obviously very disappointed, and they will probably feel down for the next couple of weeks,” said Ward.

“But I'm very proud of them. They gave it a real go, especially in the second-half, which is all I could have asked.

“We were two-down at half-time, but I told them to go out and play with pride, which they did.

“It's certainly no disgrace to lose to the best Sunday Cup side (Coundon Conservative) in the country.

“I thought we played very well for the opening few minutes, but their first goal gave them a real lift.

“It was a great strike and there was not a lot we could have done about that.

“However, their second goal was down to bad marking, which was disappointing.

“The wind was also a factor. It was the same for both teams, but it led to a game of two halves.

“We kept plugging away in the second half and we were unlucky not to score more goals,” added Ward.