There was little Marc Weatherstone could say other than acknowledge his pride for his players - that's what penalty shoot-out defeats do to you.

Welwyn Garden City had grabbed a late equaliser at Tilbury in the FA Trophy to leave normal time level at 1-1

Bailey Stevenson had scored that leveller, a penalty two minutes into stoppage time, but he had the first attempt in the shoot-out saved by the Dockers' Christian North.

And even when Harold Poku saved Sam Carter's attempt, a miss by Zuriel Otiseh-Taiwo allowed North himself to slot home the winning kick.

"It's not [a nice way to lose] but it is what it is and that’s football for you," said the City boss.

"The boys dug in and got back in the game late on and I do think f we had extra time, it would help us. 

"They’ve changed the rules and I'm not going to be sitting moaning about it. 

"It was a game of two battling sides and it wasn't a spectacle but I've got eight first-team players out so I'm proud of the boys.

"Both teams were down to bare bones so it was a game of just digging in. 

"We had a team that I felt was strong enough to win the game. I know how good Tilbury are and I knew it wasn't going to be easy. 

"And it wasn’t, but if we’d have had another five minutes, we'd have come out a win. 

"I’m frustrated but I can’t be upset." 

Welwyn had plenty of the ball, helped by the sending off of home full-back Alfie Fry with 11 minutes of the 90 to go for two yellow cards, the second one with him singled out for time wasting.

Stevenson had brought a good save out of North after that before Macauley Joynes handled a Lewis Jones cross, giving Welwyn the penalty to equalise.

Chances though were limited, not helped by the way the game went.

Weatherstone said: "That's not really like us. We normally have a lot of chances, going forward we are really good. 

"But I asked for a defensive display after [the 4-1 loss at home to] Barton last week. I wanted to see us be sound and I can't remember a chance they really had, other than the goal. 

"There are a lot of positives. It was a nothing game, just one of these games where it was ugly football."

And now out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy, the Citizens must turn their attentions back to the Southern League Division One Central, starting with a trip to Thame United on Saturday.

And he hopes to see some of his missing stars return.

"I hope we get a few of them back," said the Welwyn boss. "I won’t get all eight but I’ve got boys here who can step in and do a good job. 

"This year is going to be about the strength of our squad. The boys that aren’t playing, they'll not be happy, but if they are in it for the long haul and they believe what we're doing, then they'll stay and fight for their shirt. 

"That's what competition is all about."