AFC SUDBURY boss Nicky Smith heaped praise on his young team after their FA Trophy defeat to Oxford on Saturday.Despite the 0-2 defeat, Smith knows his side gave a good account of themselves.

Mike Bacon

AFC SUDBURY boss Nicky Smith heaped praise on his young team after their FA Trophy defeat to Oxford on Saturday.

Despite the 0-2 defeat, Smith knows his side gave a good account of themselves.

"I'm very proud of my team, very proud," he said.

"They gave everything and played without fear and I couldn't have asked for more. If Craig Bussens' shot had not hit the bar and gone in, it could have been a completely different game.

"We got hold of the ball and passed it about, unfortuantely one mistake cost us a goal before the break.

"But we came out second half with a high tempo and Bussens in particular was causing them all sorts of problems. The team can hold their heads high.

"But they have also set a benchmark for themselves now.

"I said to the boys, you're young, go out and put yourselves in the shop window and I'm telling you one or two of them did just that."

While Nicky Smith is in his first stint of management, the wily Jim Smith, caretaker boss at Oxford, knew this was a decent result for his side.

Although he would like to have seen more goals.

"We did a professional job on a difficult day," he said.

"You had to go onto that pitch to understand how difficult it was to play on and we all did well to get through it.

"I thought we were always comfortable, the only disappointment I suppose I had was that we didn't score more than two goals, because we should have done.

"I took two players off just before the break because I felt we were comfortable and I wanted us to use width rather than through the middle where it was difficult to play."

And two-goal star Jamie Guy commented: "I wish I bought my ice skates, it was very tricky out there. But it was a potential banana skin and we were the pro club so we had to earn it.

"I was pleased with my goals and we will have to see about going back to Colchester. I think I can go back in the January transfer window if Colchester wanted me. Of course I'd like to, but we will see. I've yet to meet the new manager, but at the moment I'm enjoying Oxford a lot."