Micky Stephens admitted his disappointment after Sutton United were dumped out of the FA Cup at the third qualifying round 3-1 at home by lower league Burgess Hill Town.
Town, who are two leagues below Sutton in the Ryman South, took an early lead, but Michael Spillane brought United level.
The home side dominated proceedings from then on, but Town scored from a free kick and rounded off the win three minutes from time.
Assistant manager Stephens, speaking instead of manager Paul Doswell, said: “The changing room is full of players who haven’t done themselves justice.
“We didn’t play anywhere near our best, it was far below what we expect. They will consider this a massive scalp. It’s a shock.
“The manager is disappointed too. Although the league is our priority, he puts special emphasis on the FA cup, given our history in the competition.”
Sutton, who famously beat the then FA cup holders Coventry City in 1989, were not able to evoke memories of that famous victory, instead with themselves being knocked out by lower league opposition.
The visitors took an early lead in the fourth minute with a questionably offside goal in a largely scrappy first half.
The Conference South side rallied in the second half and Spillane found the equaliser with a deflected shot soon after the restart, and the home side dominated the next 20 minutes.
But a defensive lapse led to their opponents scoring from a free kick, before the Sussex side added a third three minutes from time to ensure their place in the next round at Sutton’s expense.
Stephens added: “You need to give them credit. They came here and played to their maximum.
“We just are not playing in a confident fashion right now, and they, unbeaten so far this season, are brimming with confidence.”
Elsewhere in the FA cup third qualifying round, Ryman South side Tooting and Mitcham took the lead through Danny Summer in their visit to Ryman Premier side East Thurrock United, before losing 2-1.
Ryman Premier Kingstonian welcome Eastbourne Borough from the Conference South to Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
Hampton and Richmond Borough are up to tenth in the Ryman Premier following their 2-1 victory over strugglers VCD Athletic, with two Charlie Moone first-half goals.
On Friday night, Corinthian Casuals lost heavily at home to high-flying Whyteleafe, with Carl Wilson-Dennis’ goal on 46 minutes providing brief solace in their 5-1 loss.
Fellow Ryman South counterparts Carshalton Athletic and Walton Casuals also suffered defeats this weekend.
Carshalton lost 2-1 to visitors Faversham Town, with Jamal Alexander scoring a late consolation effort, while Walton lost 1-0 at home to Ramsgate and are without a league win since September.
In the Combined Counties League, Colliers Wood United earned a respectable point at league leaders Cove with a 1-1 draw, as Raynes Park Vale lost 3-0 at Molesey.
