By Alex Birch

Andy Hessenthaler refused to be downbeat after witnessing League 2 Bury dispatch his side out of the Emirates FA Cup with ease on Saturday afternoon.

The Dover boss was content with what he saw from his players, while admitting The Shakers were just too good on the day.

“They were too good for us today, but there’s no disgrace in that,” he said. “I thought we did fine overall, and if we take the chance right after they went ahead then you never know what might happen. But once the second goes in it’s an uphill struggle against this side. They’ve put a lot of goals past a few teams already this season, and at a higher level than where we play at.

“Although conceding five doesn’t look great, I’m not unhappy with how we did. With the players they have in their squad it’s not a massive surprise we’ve lost.”

Danny Mayor was Dover’s main tormenter on the day, with the playmaker involved in most of Bury’s attacking play. Hessenthaler applauded the number 10 off and shook his hand when substituted midway through the second half, clearly impressed by what he saw.

“We won’t play against anyone as good as that in our league. There’s a reason a number of clubs higher up have been looking at him. The way he took the second goal was superb, although if I’d been playing, he wouldn’t have got past the halfway line. I’d have taken a booking to stop him getting away.

“That’s maybe what some of our players have got to learn, with a bit more experience they’ll understand how to manage the game better. But again, I’m not too disappointed. We’re out of the FA Cup, which isn’t nice, but it means we can go back to our bread and butter.”

That’d be the National League game at FC Halifax Town next Saturday, with the manager hopeful of some squad reinforcements by then.

“We’re looking at three or four players, and we’d like to get a couple in before Halifax. It’s not easy to get deals done with players being at other clubs but we’re trying to line up a few signings. We’ll see what happens over the next few days.”