CHALVEY Sports Reserves ‘let themselves down’ in the 3-0 Norfolkian Junior Cup defeat to Barkham Athletic on Saturday, bemoaned boss Carl Feasey.

The Farnham Park side were buoyed by an impressive start to the new season, including a thrilling 7-6 win against Willow Wanderers.

Feasey challenged his team to keep more clean sheets, just one in four matches, but not to sacrifice their goals, 14 so far this year.

However, they could not get competitive against a Barkham side, who progress into round two of the competition.

Feasey admitted that he was ‘disappointed’ with the display and has hinted at changes on Saturday when Reading YMCA ‘A’ visited.

He told the Observer: “It was a disappointment, we were not great. It was an anti-climax in all honesty.

“We had five players missing and another two that just didn’t turn up, but we should’ve been more competitive.

“Our communication and language was flat, and passing wasn’t crisp enough. We didn’t deserve anything from the tie.

“I felt disappointed because, with the players we did have which includes myself, we let ourselves down.

“Barkham deserved to win because they were disciplined and organised, and they wanted it more.

“The Norfolkian Junior Cup has got bigger and better sides, and we would not have had a chance of winning it.

“A good cup run is great for momentum but there’s a big gap in quality.” After an even start, a mistake from captain Mark Blakely led to Barkham having an easy tap in from six yards to break the deadlock.

Chalvey tried to fight back in the second-half as Colin Munt saw a shot saved after neat play by Blakey and Gary Austin.

Barkham were gifted another goal as Tony Galea fouled one of the forwards inside the box. The resulting penalty was well dispatched.

A quick passing moved led to the home side scoring a third goal late on to secure the tie.

Feasey lamented: “We have to get better in every area, that is the minimum expectation.

“If we do the basics well we earn the right to play our own brand of football.

“We let our guard down last Saturday, we got complacent and then got punished.

“After the way we’ve started this year, the performance level last Saturday was a drop down.

“It was a rude awakening and changes will be made.” Chalvey Sports Reserves would like to thank Carvilles Tattooists for their generous sponsorship this season.

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