Two second-half goals from striker Bertie Brayley ended East Preston's gallant FA Cup run, but manager Vic Short was left with several positives from which to take the club forward.

East Preston were always going to find Isthmian League premier division Billericay Town a tough nut to crack, but the County League division one team gave their all in going down bravely on the biggest day in the club's history.

The hosts did themselves nothing but credit on a crisp autumnal afternoon when most of the 488 fans at the Roundstone recreation ground were hoping for another upset.

East Preston, playing their fifth FA Cup tie, had their moments, most notably when striker Lee Farrell fired a great chance wide in the first half, and this incident prompted Short to reflect on what might have been.

He said: "I felt for him (Farrell) because I know he's a better striker than that. It took him by surprise.

"Overall the best side won but we didn't disrespect ourselves. Billericay came on strong in the second half and kept the ball well as you would expect."

Brayley, who broke the deadlock ten minutes after the interval, powered in a penalty on 74 minutes before David Walker disappointingly put a spot kick wide for the hosts six minutes from time.

Added Short: "After getting good possession we lost it to go a goal down. Had we kept it at 1-0 for a bit longer you never know.

"The penalty was maybe conceded a little bit rashly from our point of view, and had we scored from ours you don't know how the opposition would react. But unfortunately it was a disappointing penalty.

"I've learned a lot because we've been up against good players. You judge your players against good players.

"We have to make sure we don't think that's our season. We've only just started and we have a long winter in front of us.

"We have to go to the horrible places before tiny crowds and give a performance that the club should be proud of."

Billericay boss Justin Edinburgh, the former Spurs fullback, was quick to acknowledge that things could have gone differently had Farrell tucked away his chance and was full of praise for how East Preston acquitted themselves.

He said: "It was a great achievement for East Preston to be in the third qualifying round. They pushed us right to the end and we probably feel the scoreline flattered us a little bit.

"It took us a while to adjust to a decent football team. East Preston played some lovely football at times and perhaps that suited us.

"It was a good, competitive game, nothing dirty about it, and there was some good football played."

East Preston: McCarthy, C. Hall (Biggs 87), Sutcliffe, Smith, Appleton, Walker, Hibberd (Axel 75), Clayton (Keet 18), Farrell, Matt Huckett, Mike Huckett
Billericay Town: Gothard, McSweeney, Kerrigan, Sappleton, Trott, Dormer (Wareham 80), Heeroo, Forbes, Brayley (Stone 90), Cousins, Game (Hunter 70)

Attendance: 488.