Rochester United resume their league promotion challenge this weekend after an exit from the FA Vase that manager Matt Hume felt was an injustice.

The Spartans bossed the second round tie of the national competition for step five and six clubs but couldn’t find the net.

It was a fourth-minute goal from higher-tier side Fleet Town that settled last Saturday’s game, leaving Rede Court Road as 1-0 winners.

Hume, who’s also the chairman, was delighted with the exposure and a biggest gate of the season on Saturday, but was left with a feeling of ‘what if?’ after their defeat.

“We absolutely batted them,” said the boss. “I felt it was a real injustice, in my opinion. We conceded an own goal, a nothing goal and I think that was the only chance they created all game.

“I was really confident that we'd go on and win it because of the way we were playing. Some of the football we played was outstanding and it was possibly the best we've played all season.

“We were really up for the game and what was really encouraging was that when we came off at the end of the game, so many people came up to me and said, ‘how the hell did you not win that?’”

A crowd of 236 turned up to watch, a big increase on regular attendances which are on the up anyway as the club push for promotion in SCEFL Division 1.

Reaching the second round proper of the FA Vase has brought in extra funds with prize money and cash generated with a decent-sized home crowd.

“It was a really good game to come and watch,” Hume said.

“We’ve had great exposure and a really decent crowd and it was just a shame that we didn't win for all those different reasons.

“A lot of people came up and watched and if there were any new supporters up there, they would have gone away having been entertained, which was good, but it’s just gutting, sometimes football's so cruel.

“It would have been great to get through another round, and they're a team that haven't lost many games in their league.”

Rochester had been reduced to 10 men early in the second half following a second-half confrontation, following a challenge made by Lucas Payne. He received his marching orders after a coming together afterwards.

Hume said: “He had to push the player off and the referee deemed that he'd hit him.”

The Spartans continued to put good attacking moves together but were unable to find a goal.

“It’s such a shame because I think it was there for the taking,” said the manager.

It’s back to league action on Saturday as Rochester travel away to lowly Halls AFC - who play at the Erith Stadium, not a venue for the purist.

“We’re going from one sort of game to another,” Hume said.

“Their ground isn’t nice but if we play like we did last Saturday, we should have no problems at all.

“We'll be without Paney now for three games but we'll be going into that really confident.

“Now it's about using this momentum, keep being professional and maintaining standards.”

Southern Counties East Division 1 table