Gary Hackett: Poor finishing cost us FA Cup dream

The Glassboys, looking to reach the third round for the first time in their history, were beaten 2-0 by Eastleigh in front of a sell-out crowd at the War Memorial Ground.

Second half goals from James Constable and Josh Payne earned the south coast side victory but the hosts were not without their chances.

Karl Hawley fired over when clean through with the game goal-less, while the striker also had a late penalty saved.

And Hackett said: "The margins between success and failure are very close and I think arguably over the 90 minutes we have had the better chances.

"In the second half they have had three chances and two of them have gone in.

"There were a number of times we had the ball in the box and had opportunities but weren't clinical.

"Their extra clinical finishing has won them the game.

"I'm totally gutted for the players, they have come so close. They are very down."

It is the third time in five years Stourbridge have been knocked out at the second round stage.

They were beaten by Stevenage in both 2011 and 2013 but Hackett admitted this loss hurt most of all.

"I think Stevenage, both times, you would say we were beaten by the better team.

"I would not say we are a better team than Eastleigh because that would be wrong but I think the better team on the day has not had its just rewards."

There was little in the game before Constable fired the visitors in front just before the hour mark, though Hackett was less than convinced referee Ben Toner's award of the free-kick which led to the goal.

"They scored from a free-kick which was not perhaps a free-kick," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing that again on Match of the Day.

"I thought the referee was particularly weak in my opinion, he has allowed the goalkeeper to just stall and stall and stall.

"I'm not saying we would have won but I was disappointed with him today."