Needham Market manager Mark Morsley insisted his side will not let their FA Cup heartache bring a crashing halt to their league form.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Witham Town management teamThe Witham Town management team (Image: Archant)

Captain Kem Izzet’s first-half penalty put the Marketmen in front before Witham Town hit back with strikes from Tom Wraight and James Stevens to seal a spot in today’s draw for the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifiying.

The Essex side were also victorious in last season’s Ryman Division One North play-off against Needham.

But with Needham currently second in the league after winning 12 of their opening 14 fixtures, Morsley is adamant his side have the character to get back to winning ways.

He said: “I don’t think losing will affect us in the league. To be a winner, you have to deal with defeat. As a group we have got to deal with it and move on.

“Prior to Saturday, we lost two games in the league, but we bounced back from them and it is important that we bounce back again. We will move on to our ultimate aim, which is to get promoted.”

He added: “We were by far the better team in the first half. We should have been more than 1-0 up, and maybe on reflection that is where the game was lost.

“We didn’t pass the ball as well in the second half, we allowed Witham to gain a foothold and then we conceded two pretty poor goals.

“It was very frustrating. The key to being a successful side is, when you are well on top and controlling the game, you score the goals. That is where our success in the league this season has come from.”

Meanwhile, Garry Kimble, the Witham Town boss, praised his side after making history.

He said: “I am delighted to be in the fourth round for the first time in the club’s history.

“I was happy with the win but the performance was not good enough. At half-time I said a few home truths, and in the second half we could have won very comfortably.”