Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb felt they “let the club down” after being knocked out of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

The Fleet lost 5-3 on penalties to Bishop’s Stortford following a 1-1 draw, which saw the visitors equalise in stoppage time having stayed in the game thanks to the heroics of keeper Jack Giddens.

It’s a second cup exit to lower-league opposition for Kutrieb this season after losing to Slough in the FA Cup, but even a better performance this time around failed to mask his frustration.

“We let the club down,” said Kutrieb. “It’s sort of easy to get some money from cup competitions but we let ourselves down massively, especially today.

“How we played was not important, the result was important and we went out. That’s criminal.

“If the game ends up seven or eight-one that’s a fair reflection but if you can’t defend in the last minute from the last set-piece then we’re in big trouble. It sums us up perfectly, that’s exactly where we are at this moment in time.

“What annoys me the most is that we are not able to score a second goal and the game is over. We had so many chances, not even half-chances, but regardless if you don’t score a second goal then you need to make sure you don’t concede.

“We didn’t get the result and that’s the only thing that matters at this moment in time. I’m very frustrated obviously as everyone can imagine.

“It’s penalties so it will always be the case that someone misses one and you lose the game. I was sure that we would save a minimum one, maybe two, and then it’s a different game but they took their penalties very well.”

On his team’s failure to convert the many chances that came their way, particularly in the second half, Kutrieb said: “It’s a little bit switching off, it’s a little bit (thinking) it’s enough, maybe the mentality is not enough determination to put it away.

“We had more than enough clear-cut chances, it was not even put it down to we haven’t performed well enough or whatever. You need to put your chances away and that’s what I said at half-time, we needed to be clinical but we haven’t been.

“If you’re up in the table, games go for you, referee decisions go for you, and if you’re down in the table then it’s the opposite, that’s just how it is. That’s why you need to work harder to turn it around.

“It’s the perfect sum-up of the season so far, being good, on the frontfoot and creating something but don’t get the result and concede an embarrassing goal.

“It was the last kick of the game and three players were alone, not just one, so that’s criminal.”

There was a second goal in three games for Greg Cundle, who came off the bench to provide extra impetus for the home side.

“He’s a very important player for us,” noted Kutrieb. “That’s why we brought him on after 60 minutes as we weren’t happy and we wanted to make a change going forward and be more of an attacking threat.

“We know he can do that, that’s why we subbed him on and he took the goal very well.”

Other positives for the Ebbsfleet boss included an hour from Jordon Ibe and 30 minutes for Rakish Bingham, who was making his first appearance since an Achilles injury sustained in March.

“We wanted to give Jordon Ibe 60 minutes and Rakish Bingham was back for 30 minutes,” added Kutrieb.

“I’m just delighted that Rakish is back, it was nice to see him out on the pitch.”