BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent boss James Webster has urged his players to start showing more passion – or face the prospect of a long, hard season.

The R’s crashed out of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, after losing 4-1 at home to Thamesmead Town.

The sides were meeting in a preliminary-round replay, after drawing 1-1 at Bayliss Avenue on Saturday.

Afterwards Webster admitted being disappointed by his players’ lack of fight and urgency, especially as the tie fizzled out in the last 20 minutes.

“It was very frustrating,” he said.

“Individuals are out of form, which happens in football, but there are too many at the moment and some of our decision-making is baffling. I can’t get my head around some of the things we’re doing, on and off the ball, and don’t understand the thought process.

“We worked hard and I can’t fault the players’ effort.

“They’re good lads and I know they care, but I’d like to see more evidence of that on the pitch.

“I want to see that they’re as annoyed as me, that they care about the club and realise how important games like this are.

“There was no urgency, we didn’t put up much of a fight and just allowed the game to fizzle out, especially in the last 20 minutes.

“It was flat at times and that’s part of our problem at the moment.”

With a home tie against Ramsgate – weekend conquerors of Maldon and Tiptree – awaiting the winners, it was Thamesmead who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes.

Brightlingsea made a dream start to the second half and were level within ten minutes of the restart.

Luke Read applied the finishing touch from close range to restore parity for Webster’s side.

The final nail in the coffin came in the last few seconds, when Thamesmead converted from the spot after a foul by Ricky Griggs.

The defeat was Brightlingsea’s first in six league and cup outings and they will aim to get back on track in Saturday’s Ryman League north division match at home to Soham Town Rangers.

“As a team, we’ve got to man up and quickly, otherwise it’s going to be a long season,” added Webster.

“There’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves or dwelling. It’s gone now.

“We’ve got to pick ourselves up and try to turn our season around.

“It already feels it’s petering out and it shouldn’t be like that. We’re only in October.

“When we had disappointments last season, we bounced back and they became turning points for us.

“Now we need that to happen again. We’ve got to try and be positive, put this behind us and go again on Saturday.

“It’s got to come from the players and can’t keep coming from me and the management team.”