WHAT follows is a sentence I neither expected nor wanted to write. "Now we can concentrate on the league".

Hearing positive statements from Ady I anticipated and looked forward to a good trophy run, culminating in a joyous party. I should know better.

Two moments cost us the game. James Norwood's defensive dalliance and Dale Bennett's sending off are the sort of things you cannot plan for and against a team of Ebbsfleet's ability difficult to overcome. With Rovers it is two steps forward, one back.

In no way should anyone try and hide behind the meaningless phrase, "On another day it would have been different." In cup football there is never another day and we are out of the competition.

Cup football is quite simple, if you want to win you need to concentrate all game and never let up. Twenty minutes at full throttle is not enough. Major individual errors are unacceptable. On their good days James and Dale are assets but that does not excuse them. They should know better. What I have written seems glum. Of course it does. Who can be happy with eviction from a competition that we had a meaningful chance of winning.

A good cup run would have been a diversion from what will be a tough run in the league. Despite the ball and chain asterisk (you all know what I mean) there is a good chance of making the play-offs, but there is increasingly less room for collective or individual lapses.

Braintree are difficult to beat being well organised by Alan Devonshire. Drawing there and beating Altrincham and Nuneaton will give us seven more points from January. Anything more will be a bonus – anything less is surely unacceptable.

All of us are would-be managers and have our own ideas of selection and formation. All are irrelevant of course.

It is Mr Pennock's that are important. One of the senior sages amongst the supporters has described our formation as almost 4-2-4. Indeed it is when we are attacking but when our opponents have the ball it is 4-4-2.

This puts considerable responsibility upon our two wide men. As well as being expected to attack they must defend as well. James earns good and bad marks for his Ebbsfleet's performance. He could have cleared the ball before Ebbsfleet scored, but remember he did head the ball off the line.

EllioTt showed considerable defensive effort at Kidderminster and defence is becoming a stronger part of his game but I fear for our two central midfield men. They can often be outnumbered and exposed.

Jon Parkin is still facing criticism but not from me. He is scoring goals. Our manager was concerned about JP's early season form and asked for a personal performance video to be compiled, showing Jon what he was doing right and more importantly doing wrong. Study of the video by Jon has meant that the goals have begun to flow.

This will not always be the case but I am convinced he will have more good days than bad. With Stuart Fleetwood on the bench as an impact substitute changes can easily be made. I look forward to seeing our other new signings in action, particularly Charlie Clough. Luke Oliver has been less effective of late. Will we see Charlie at Braintree?

The signing of other central defender Danny Coles for the 2015-16 season is first class news. Now is the time for meaningful discussion about all players' contracts. There seemed to be too much indecision at the end of last season.

The manager will have in mind the players he wants for next season and the sooner they are signed the better. Equally those not wanted deserve being put in the picture so they and their agent can explore what options there may be. Everyone likes to feel secure and the sooner that happens the better.

Thanks and congratulations to Bob Savage, secretary of the Supporters' Club. A splendid email arrived this morning (Sunday) and it cheered me up, reminding me there are other things about a football club apart from results. The organisation seems in very good heart.

As the season hopefully comes to a play-off climax I shall be boarding the KB express as often as possible, hoping to see many of you there. Book me on for Braintree Sam, we can win there can't we?