Bashley boss Steve Riley watched his 10-man team crash out of the FA Cup but then quickly shifted his focus to his side’s play-off prospects.

Goals from Jack Pitcher and Lee Marshall in each half handed Gloucester City a 2-1 victory at the Recreation Ground, with Dave Allen’s strike on the stroke of half-time not enough to keep Bash in the competition.

But Riley, whose side’s chances were not helped by Paul Gazzard’s 61st-minute sending off for two bookings, admits a Southern League play-off push remains his main goal this term.

He told the Echo: “The FA Trophy is the next major cup competition but realistically we want to stay where we are in the league.

“We’ve had a great start and have scored more goals and we’re in a better position than last season.

“We’ve improved, for sure, on the last campaign and we need to keep focusing on that.

“If we are in and around the play-off area near Christmas, we can gauge how well we can do.

“We will continue doing what we’re doing with that togetherness and work ethic we have got, and hopefully we’ll be competitive at the end of the season.”

Describing Saturday’s cup defeat, which saw the club miss out on £4,500 in prize money, Riley added: “It was not to be. It would’ve been nice for the fans, for the club and for the players, but I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

Bashley: Elm, Gazzard, Ferrett, Middleton, Parnell (Castle, 71), Knowles, Kelly, Mason (Tarr, 83), Allen, Gamble, Knight (Keeler, 80). Unused subs: Prodomo, Maxwell, McCarthy, Bray.