The following report appeared in yesterday's Cambridge Evening News:
CAMBRIDGE City boss Gary Roberts told his side not to look back in anger after their narrow 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Hereford at Milton Road.
City had looked good value for a replay at Edgar Street as they matched the Nationwide Conference side for long periods, but Jon Brady's stunning 77th minute strike put the Bulls through to the second round.
Before the game, Roberts had called for his players to give everything for the cause and he was pleased with their reaction. He said: "There are no recriminations from me about our players. They put in a sterling effort and I told them to hold their heads high after the way they played.
"We got hit by a goal on the counter-attack, but that is something we have done to other teams on plenty of occasions.
"The players are disappointed because they put a lot of effort in and they thought they could have come away with a draw."
Despite their strong performance, City found it difficult to get past the Hereford defence and Roberts felt
that ultimately the visitors' higher league status had an impact on the outcome. "We had good spells in the game, but Hereford are a full time outfit and you have to give them credit," said the City manager. "They were well organised and made it very difficult for us.
"Anything we got we had to work very hard for, perhaps harder than we are used to doing in our league."
Hereford manager and chairman Graham Turner was complimentary towards City after seeing his side outplayed for the latter part of the first half.
Turner said: "At half time we knew we were in a game. Before the goal, we probably would have settled for a draw, but it was a brilliant finish to win it.
City now return to Nationwide South action with a home match against Thurrock on Tuesday and Roberts is keen to remedy his side's inconsistent form in the league.
They currently lie 11th in the table, but remain within striking distance of leaders St Albans and Roberts said: "The aim is to carry this sort of form on into the league and to improve our position.
"But at the same time, we must not get frantic about where we are. If we can go on a run of four of five wins it would take us right back up to the top."