BRANTHAM Athletic’s FA Cup journey reached its final destination this afternoon, as the Imps bowed out at the hands of Eastbourne Borough.

While disappointing to lose, all good things must come to an end and the club should be heartily proud of their achievements in getting this far – the furthest they have ever got in the competition.

Without wishing to sound patronising, it’s been an outstanding effort to get through three rounds and, in the process, the Imps have put an eye-watering £11,000 into the club coffers – a significant amount that will no doubt be of huge benefit in the weeks and months to come.

After dismantling Wivenhoe Town and then beating Welwyn Garden City, Brantham had the edge on Spalding United in a narrow 1-0 victory at the Leisure Centre – a result that teed up this afternoon’s showdown against Eastbourne.

The Sussex side play three levels higher, in the step two National League South, but, by all accounts, were made to work extremely hard for their 1-0 victory.

Congratulations to joint-bosses Matt Carmichael and Michael Brothers, to the players and all who work so hard behind the scenes at this well-run club.

Brantham must now continue to convert their cup heroics into league points.

Bizarrely, they have still only played three Thurlow Nunn League premier division fixtures (because of their cup and FA Vase commitments).

They’re still unbeaten after two wins and a draw and the next challenge, when the dust settles on today’s heartache, will be to keep that run going and start motoring up the table.