Bucks Beaten In FA Cup

Bootle manager Joe Doran believes his side must go back to basics to kick start their season.

The Bucks remain winless after being dumped out of the Emirates FA Cup by Eccleshill United on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the hosts playing 85 minutes with 10-men, a brace from Antony Brown condemned Doran's side to their first defeat of the season.

Arriving in Yorkshire after another 1-1 draw, this time against Skelmersdale United on Tuesday night, hope was high that the Bucks could finally claim their first win of the season.

And those hopes were soon boosted when the hosts were reduced to 10-men after five minutes, with Johnny Irving seeing red for a late challenge on Liam Loughlin.

But three minutes later and United opened the scoring when Brown finished from an acute angle after ghosting through the Bootle defence.

To their credit, the Bucks rallied to the setback and began to carve out openings at will. But in what is becoming a familiar theme to their season, the Bucks lacked the composure needed when it mattered most.

Four minutes into the second half, though, and Doran's side would finally find the back of the net. A cross from the right found Lee Hughes inside the box before the Bucks number seven unleashed a superb first-time volley into the far corner of the net.

But nine minutes later and Brown struck again. Jack McGovern could only parry Matty Stor's effort, with Brown reacting quickest to fire the rebound home and seal his side's place in the next round.

“Disappointed," Doran said afterwards when asked for thoughts on the game.

“I think in the three games so far, the only time we’ve been the Bootle I want us to be was in the last 25 minutes against Skem (Skelmersdale United) on Tuesday night, where we played incisive football and got to the byline and put crosses in.

“Let’s make no bones about it we’ve had a bad start and we need to put it right soon.

“It’s not a case of overreacting I think it’s a case of getting back to basics and doing the basics right, because at the moment I don’t think we’re doing the basics right.”