MANAGER Steve Bateman said he was gutted more for his players than himself after their FA Cup loss to Mansfield.

The Rebels boss said he could not have asked for more from his side and praised their 'passion and determination' for matching their full-time opponents for 120 minutes.

Speaking to the Observer after the game, he said: "We were in it all the way. We have done ourselves credit.

"When I wake up in the morning I am going to be as I am now, gutted.

"For the players really because there was nothing in it at all. It has come down to two penalty kicks." The Southern League side more than matched their opponents over the two ties and showed remarkable character to come back from conceding on the stroke of half time. Even then, Mansfield's goal came from Dominic Rhone's defensive error, which was arguably the only mistake Slough made over the two matches. But their heads did not drop and a 'bit of magic' from Stuart Swift got them back in the game.

"Dominic knows he should have cleared it, he was distraught at half time, which is why I pulled him out of it because it got to him a little bit during the game," explained Bateman. "He will learn from that experience." He added: "The crowd were a little bit quiet at that point, understandably, waiting to see if we were going to cave in but we did not, we dug in.

"It was a great equaliser, in the fact he is taking on a full-time goalkeeper.

"Stuart Swift is renowned for his deadball expertise and he has hit an absolute screamer.

"I am pleased, we are doing what all professional sides should do, we followed in and got the ball in the back of the net.

"I am proud of the players because they have reignited the crowd and got everybody going." Bateman believes his side rattled Mansfield for the next quarter of an hour but could not force the second goal.

However, it is a testament to the Rebels that they got back on level terms and managed to keep out Mansfield for the remainder of the match plus all of extra-time.

Bateman went on: "We have more than matched them.

"Guts, you can tick that box. We played with a bit of passion and ability, particularly in the second half.

"I am just pleased we have given a very good account of ourselves against a full-time outfit.

"When the boys play like that with that amount of passion and determination, I cannot ask for any more from them.

"They have got ability, certainly at the level we play at, but they have matched full-time professionals here." ** PICK up a copy of the Observer for a Slough Town FA Cup special **