IT’S rare you’ll hear me speak positively after a defeat.

But I couldn’t have been any prouder of our team on Saturday afternoon, despite the 2-0 extra-time defeat to Coggeshall Town that saw us exit the FA Vase at the first hurdle.

The reason? Simply that they had given everything and left it all out there on the pitch for myself and every other fan to see. We couldn’t have asked any more.

Pride, however, was tinged with disappointment. Not at the result. After all, how could there be, when the players had given their all?

No, the disappointment was that such a brave, spirited, valiant performance hadn’t been rewarded with progression to the next round.

For, with the odds against us, the boys had stepped up to the plate and delivered.

We welcomed Kevin Coyle back into the starting line-up following his return to the club on Friday afternoon and Joe Moore returned to the side after injury.

There were also first senior starts for two 18-year-olds who had previously represented the club at youth level, namely Ben Justice and Zach Smith-Walter.

The game itself was one of relatively few chances but was enthralling in its own way.

Arguably the key moment came in the 36th minute, when we were forced into an early change, using our only available substitute, Markel Greenidge, to replace skipper Wayne Chapman.

There would be no more fresh legs available to us for the remainder of the afternoon.

And as the game moved towards the end of normal time, and then into the extra period, and with our visitors able to make their three changes, that sadly began to tell.

The boys didn’t lose the game because of a lack of heart, workrate or desire, because they displayed all of those things in abundance.

They simply lost the game because, in doing so, they had nothing else left to give.

But each and every one of those players that represented us can hold their heads up high.

It’s back to league action this Saturday, with a key match away at Long Melford.

With all due respect to our opponents, it’s certainly one where we should be targeting a victory, as we look to return to winning ways.

We then welcome Southend Manor to the Bowl in the Essex Senior Cup next Tuesday evening. How about joining us for that one?

Come on you Seasiders!