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There was pride in defeat for Tonbridge Angels manager Steve McKimm following their FA Trophy fifth-round exit.
Angels went down 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against National League promotion contenders Bromley.
The Ravens were much-changed but still had a strong side out and the visitors certainly knew they’d been in a game.
Andy Woodman’s men appeared to be heading through after Palace Francis struck in the last 10 minutes, shortly after Angels defender Harry Hudson was sent off.
But the hosts’ fighting spirit shone through with Joe Turner scoring a last-gasp equaliser and they had Bromley on the ropes in injury time.
“I’m very proud,” said McKimm.
“We’ve made history for the club, getting as far as we’ve got.
“We’ve taken Bromley all the way, with 10 men as well.
“In my opinion I thought we were the better side, I thought we played a lot of football, more probably than we’ve played all season without creating loads of chances first half, but second half I thought we did really well and deserved to take it at least to penalties.
“When we went down to 10 men it was even harder but we threw on another forward and went for it, got the goal, reverted back to a little defensive shape and got to penalties.
“We’ve got character in abundance and we keep going.
"We’re little old Tonbridge and I spoke to Andy (Woodman) beforehand, he’s a very nice man, he’s watched us, he gave us credit, was very complimentary of us afterwards, even before the penalties were taken.
“Credit to him for his nice words, it does stick with you and it helps you.
“Too many people disrespect my players, our club, and it’s days like Torquay, King’s Lynn and today where you show them what you’re made of.
“And we do that in the league, like we did at Dorking last week, we played ever so well against Eastbourne, a couple of errors cost us, so we aren’t far away in terms of what we’re aiming to do this season.
“Not that it bothers me, but for the players they don’t deserve to be disrespected as much as they are, you’re a long-ball team, you sit back behind the ball.
“Anyone who watched that, we didn’t sit back behind the ball today.”
Hudson saw red after an off-the-ball clash with Jude Arthurs in the Angels penalty box.
The defender protested his innocence after the game and, with claims of a cheeky wink from his opponent, he can perhaps count himself hard done by.
McKimm said: “Harry said he didn’t do anything to warrant the sending off, the referee didn’t tell him why he was sent off and their player apparently winked at Harry as he did get sent off.
“I’m 50/60 yards away, there’s no point in me commenting on it, I’m just going by what was said.
“If it’s a sending off, it’s a sending off; if it wasn’t, it wasn’t, it’s not going to change the result.”
With Tonbridge through to the last 16 of the Trophy for the first time in their history, the tie attracted a bumper crowd of 2,061.
It was one of the biggest-ever gates at Longmead and supporters could have no complaints at the commitment from their side.
“We had 800 here against Hemel, we had 1,200 against Dartford, so the fans are coming out to support the club and we’re trying to give them everything we can to go home happy,” said McKimm.
“Like I said to the players, take away the result, the penalty shoot-out loss and I don’t think any Tonbridge Angels supporter could go home unhappy with that performance today, and I certainly haven’t.”
