TOMMY Saunders must wait at least another 12 months for the chance to pit his wits against the manager of a Nationwide League club, but the Bluebirds chief is staying positive despite Saturday's crushing FA Cup defeat at the hands of Weymouth.

One of Saunders' managerial ambitions is to progress to the first round proper, but saw his side falter at the second qualifying round stage for the third year in a row.

The defeat meant Chippenham missed out on a bumper £7,500 pay day and Saunders was left to rue the unkind draw that paired his side with fellow Premier Division outfit Weymouth.

He said: "We desperately, desperately wanted to do well in the competition this year and fielded on paper what was our best side.

"I'm disappointed and I'm not going to make excuses. It was a game we could have won, but there were a lot of easier games we could have had.

"I wouldn't have minded playing Bemerton Heath Harlequins for £7,500, but that's football. We've been well and truly put in our place and have to bounce back on Saturday."

Defensive mistakes cost the Bluebirds in the end and Weymouth striker Lee Phillips, the subject of a recent £20,000 transfer bid, gave Shane Andrews and Tom Gould a torrid time at the back.

Saunders is concerned by the vulnerability of his defence in the absence of injured captain Gareth Davies, but refused to blame either Andrews or Gould for his side's defeat.

"I don't think we deserve to lose the game 4-1 and, no questions about it, we've missed Gareth Davies massively.

"I don't want to keep harping on about it because, if you talk about it for too long, you tend to think you won't get anything every time he isn't playing. We missed his organisational skills at the back.

"You've got to feel sorry for Shane Andrews, who has been playing 50 per cent fit all season. To be fair, he was outpaced on Saturday for the first time this year.

"Most of the sides have big, bruising centre forwards, which he can handle, but he got absolutely destroyed by their number 11. It isn't Shane's fault and he doesn't become a bad player overnight."

The Bluebirds boss was pleased with the contributions of fit-again substitutes Colin Towler and Adie Mings and both could be handed starting spots against Moor Green on Saturday.