James Collins admitted Chatham's latest defeat was his lowest moment in football.

Chats went out of the SCEFL Challenge Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw at home to local rivals Lordswood on Tuesday night.

They led the quarter-final 2-0 with six minutes left but couldn't see the game out.

"I'm sick," said Collins. "That result has hurt me more than any other in my life.

"We were completely in control but they scored at the wrong time and we were on the back foot which invited pressure.

"There was a lack of leaders, a lack of winners, a lack of game management and there's been a mix-up between our centre-half and goalkeeper with the last kick of the game.

"We played as well as we can and it hasn't been enough. We were in the semi-final and we've thrown it away. It's happened too many times this season.

"I don't really know how to word it because inside I'm furious and I know the problems but I can't seem to get any more out of the players I've got which is frustrating me."

Chatham are 16th in Southern Counties East so this competition represented their last chance of success in 2017/18.

Collins said: "I'm not going to lie, it is going to be hard to pick myself up. I don't know if it's going to be hard to pick the players up because I don't know if they're winners or not.

"I'm struggling to pick myself up, I'll tell you that.

"They say it hurts but I'm not convinced yet. Everyone can say it hurts but I saw people laughing and joking in the bar afterwards.

"I was sick, I could barely speak after the game. I'm not saying everyone should be the same as me but it's all well and good sitting in the changing-room being quiet saying you've made a mistake or not done what you were meant to do but how much does it hurt?

"How much do they do? How seriously do they take their football? I don't know."

Chatham have 13 league games left, starting with a trip to Cray Valley on Saturday.

Collins said: "It's the same mistakes from the same people in the same situations and I'm not seeing any improvement at all. I've just had enough.

"I refuse to throw a load of money at it for the rest of the season. I know who I want next season, I want to bring in at least 10 if I'm honest, but they've all got things to play for this year.

"They're in leagues above or the top end of this league and I will approach them in the summer and tell them I want them.

"It's not that I can't get them in (now) and that's where I'm frustrated because it's not logical to get them in. But I'm sick and tired of talking about next season because I feel like a spin doctor.

"I've taken that choice to not pay over the odds to get people in and ultimately, if they're in the league above and this league and they've got things to play for, I want them to win things so they come to the club as winners.

"I don't want them to come because I've offered them extra money - and I don't think they would because they've got things to play for.

"I still believe in myself. I think I'm getting the game plans right but we're just not executing them. It's either a lack of quality or we're not taking our chances or we're not able to see games out. It's a constant lack of quality in every situation and I've had enough of it.

"I've said to the players 'you've got to the end of the season' but I'm not seeing any improvement.

"There's a responsibility to the supporters to have a feelgood factor around the place.

"I'm very clear in what I want next season and how I want us to be. I'm trying to instil that now and I'm learning lots about where we have frailties. That will give us a good head start for next season.

"We've got to two quarter-finals and lost both on penalties. Everyone says penalties is a lottery but I don't think it is. I think it's a mental toughness thing and that's another frailty we have.

"I know what I'm doing, tactically, is right but I haven't got the players to execute it.

"I wouldn't say there's anything we're good at. We work hard but we don't have an identity and we're getting punished."