BOSS Callum Brooks said Hamworthy United “could not have given any more” against Wessex Premier leaders Sholing despite being knocked out of the FA Cup, writes Jack Tanner.

A 68th-minute Nathan Walker own goal decided the tightly-contested first qualifying round replay, which saw Hammers beaten 1-0 by the Boatmen following Saturday’s goalless draw at Universal Stadium.

Defeat meant Hammers missed out on £6,000 in prize money and a trip to National South Slough Town in the second qualifying round.

Brooks told the Daily Echo: “We tried hell for leather as a side. We could not have given any more to win that game of football.

“I think over the course of the two games there was a paper-thin difference between the teams.

“It was so tight, you could see it was always going to be won by a scrappy goal or a mistake – and you always hoped to be on the right end of it.

“Unfortunately we weren’t but we will take a lot of heart from it. They are the top team in the league from what I have seen. They are the benchmark for where we need to be.

“After only two months together as a side, to be competing as closely with them as we did, we have to take a lot of heart from that into the rest of our season.”

Eddie Hodge went closest for the hosts at Specsavers County Ground.

And while keeper Tom Rees made a few routine saves, there was very little goalmouth action throughout the tie.

“We got a few balls in and around their box, we huffed and we puffed, but you don’t get easy chances against teams like Sholing. They’re difficult to get in behind,” added Hammers boss Brooks.

“We had a good chance in the first half and we had two one-on-ones on Saturday, but we needed to score one of them.”

Hammers: Rees, Peprah-Annan, Randall, Wright, Walker, Senior, Filkins, Gleeson (Costello), Hodge (Smith), Cann, Bayston. Unused subs: Rowe, Watkins, Patrick, Tregaskas (g/k).