Gordon Bartlett says Wealdstone did themselves proud as a club in Saturday's FA Cup first round exit against Colchester United but their attention immediately reverts to the National League South.

The Stones were knocked out by ruthless U's – who play their football three divisions higher in League One – despite leading 2-1 a minute before half time.

But Macauley Bonne scored the second of four goals in the 44th minute to send the sides in tied at 2-2 at half time after Jefferson Louis and Bradley Hudson-Odoi had put the hosts ahead.

Bonne added another with just three minutes of the second half gone before grabbing a fourth in after the hour. George Moncur and former Wealdstone loanee Marvin Sordell killed the tie off late on.

"My chief emotion is that it's an extreme anti-climax," said Bartlett. "You build yourself up and the one thing you don't want to do it lose heavily.

"We were there a minute before half time, 2-1 up, and then early in the second half we were 3-2 down and that's where the game changed.

"The fight, commitment and all those things came through but we always looked vulnerable defensively.

"They've been scoring a lot of goals and it's evident why. It was great whilst it lasted.

"The club has done itself proud with the way it came across in the media. We've now got a job to do in securing enough points in the league. We need to get enough points to be enjoying the end of the season."

Bartlett had no complaints at the result but felt his side were not aided by the heavy rain on the day of the match which left the Grosvenor Vale pitch soaking underfoot.

He said: "The pitch was very heavy and that made everything harder for us. The goal a minute into the second half was disappointing because we had the ball, lost it and it was very easy for them from there.

"It all happened so quickly and we had to gamble from there and chase the game a bit. if that hadn't have happened, then who knows?

"We've enjoyed the experience and now we're hungry for more."

Tuesday saw the Stones return to cup action with a Middlesex Senior Cup second round tie at rivals Harrow Borough.

But it was Isthmian Premier Division side Boro who prevailed 3-2 with an injury-time winner.

"It was a little bit after the Lord Mayor's show," admitted Bartlett. "We made a lot of changes but our first half performance was extremely poor and lacked any passion or desire.

"But we dominated the second half and we should have won it. After we equalised we had at least two chances to win it before them but on one occasion we didn't even get the shot away."

The Stones go to St Albans City on Saturday.