Barry Ashby didn’t mince his words as he reflected on a heavy FA Cup first qualifying round defeat at Woodside Road on Saturday.

The Sussex club are the latest lower ranked opponents to end the Thanet club’s interest in the competition early, Potters Bar and Cray Wanderers being two of the others.

The Margate boss said: “We were rubbish, Worthing deserved to win, and all you can do after days like that is hold your heads up, take in on the chin and get it right next time."

“The players let the club down, and more importantly let themselves down. I will certainly being looking for a reaction from them in the next game."

Gate were chasing the game against their Ryman League Division 1 South opponents after conceding the first goal inside three minutes and the whole afternoon went from bad to worse, as the chance of a valuable £3000 pay day went begging.

Ashby added: “If you don’t defend properly you are not going to give yourselves a chance.”

Dominic Douglas headed Worthing in front, and Scott Kirkwood added a second inside the half-hour. Four minutes later Paul Kennett made it three, after goalkeeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens had saved Ben Andrews’ first effort.

Roy Pook added the fourth four minutes after the break, before Jack Parkinson pulled one back.

However, Margate’s mauling was complete when Karl Akehurst added the fifth after 65 minutes.

Ashby didn’t rule out adding to his squad. He said: "We are looking at bringing in new players, but don’t want to say who the targets are.”

Margate travel to third-placed Ashford Town (Middlesex) on Saturday, and face Tonbridge Angels at Hartsdown Park next Tuesday.