Weston-super-Mare manager Scott Bartlett has declared his pride for how his Seagulls side performed in their FA Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers, after the National League South outfit took their League One hosts to extra-time.
The visitors started the affair in a lively manner but did concede the games first goal as Jamie Lindsay slid onto a shrewd pass from Isaac Hutchinson late in the first half. However, Weston did manage to find an equaliser midway through the second period as Jordan Bastin fired low past Josh Griffiths in the area.
With both sides boasting outstanding chances to win the game in normal time, extra-time was used to decide the outcome of the tie with replays scrapped for this season’s competition. Goals from Connor Taylor and Grant Ward secured victory for Matt Taylor’s side but it was still a valiant effort from Bartlett’s men.
“I’m nearly always proud of the team, whether we’re playing at Bristol Rovers or Aveley last week,” the Weston manager told club media post-match. “I think we’ve got a good bunch and I know that magic of the FA Cup and all of the rest of it, I thought we were outstanding today. We played really well and pushed a good team with good players.
“Obviously, to come away and draw after 90 minutes was very good and really pleasing because it just further reinforces what we think about the group.
“We’ve got some good characters in there. I think we’ve got some ability. We’ve got some pace. We’ve got good legs in the team.
“Obviously everyone’s gotten an amazing reception from our fans but I don’t want it to be just because we played well in an FA Cup game. I think we all recognise now that we’ve got a good team here and we pushed them as far as we could. [We] came short for a little bit but for most of the game, certainly the 90 minutes, I think we closed the gap of three divisions quite well.
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“I feel robbed of a replay,” Bartlett added. “That’s just the way I feel about it. I get it. We equalised in the last minute at Gateshead last year and it went straight to penalties. There was no replay or extra-time. We just came up a tiny bit short in extra-time against a really good team.
“Nothing to be displeased about. I thought we showed what we’ve been showing in our league and that’s what you want.”
Weston had already been making strides before Saturday afternoon in their own division, putting together a 16-match unbeaten run that saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup alongside the summit of the National League South table.
This is only the Seagulls’ second season in the sixth tier since winning the Southern Premier in 2023 but there are early indications that it could be a campaign to remember.
As for Rovers, their prize for making it through to the second round was a rather unglamorous tie away at League One rivals Barnsley, having lost the league fixture 2-1 back in September.