by Andrew Gidley

Tony Burman says Dartford's FA Trophy defeat at Wealdstone on Tuesday night was a "bitter pill to swallow."

Lee Chappell's 27th-minute winner decided the third round replay at Ruislip with referee Robert Whitton brandishing three red cards in 10 second-half minutes, dismissing home pair Chris O'Leary and Connor Smith and Darts midfielder James Rogers.

Burman (pictured) said: "I am disappointed because we won't have a better opportunity to reach the quarter-finals - it's a bitter pill to swallow.

"It was the manner we lost, considering the importance of the tie

"It finished nine versus 10, but I can't just blame the referee. I don't know why their No.8 (O'Leary) was sent-off.

"James was booked in that incident, two minutes earlier, then went in for another challenge which the referee deemed was a sending-off offence, which I felt was harsh."

Burman added: "When you go to places like that you need a good atttitude and a lot of heart for a battle and Wealdstone wanted it more than us. When they went down to nine men it wasn't about tactics, it was about commitment and the will-to-win but we didn't have it."