BRIG general manager Mick Hoyle revealed his disappointment at leaving the FA Cup in the manner the team did - but is keeping his fingers crossed that the team get the Lucky Loser place to face Aston Villa in the third round.

He said: "I'm disappointed to go out the way we did. We out-thought Cambridge, out-battled them and out-played them.

"I thought the penalty was harsh to say the least. But we'll hang on to the thought of drawing Aston Villa next week as the Lucky Loser.

"In the first half, we had the better chances, despite Craig Dootson having to make a great save on the stroke of half time.

"I thought we were sitting comfortably and were on for a draw.

"But the penalty is one of those things that if you get, you accept it, but are distraught when it goes against you.

"Everybody did the club proud on and off the pitch."

And following the club's 3-1 defeat away at Accrington Stanley in the UniBond Challenge Cup on Tuesday night, Brig have been placed in the President's Cup.

Stanley took just 12 minutes to go in front, when Steve Carragher sent an absolute rocket past Dootson from 20-yards out.

Whittaker did his best to draw level minutes later, calling on Speare to pull off a superb reaction save.

Brig had plenty of opportunity to get back in the match through Vickers, Whittaker and Smith, but all failed to hit the target.

Gary Williams doubled the home side's lead when he slid home the second and cropped up again on 68 minutes to put the game beyond Brig.

The best of the visitors' squandered chances was a Whittaker shot just five minutes into the second period, which he managed to balloon over the bar from five yards out.

Brig's consolation came on 80 minutes when sub Neil Spencer slammed the ball home.

Carwen Williams has joined Bamber Bridge from Winsford for a small fee.

The 24-year-old striker is eligible for the FA trophy match this weekend. Mick added: "If we perform in the Trophy like we did in the FA Cup, we are sure to go a long way."

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