SLOUGH Town joint-manager Jon Underwood insists that the Rebels did not come up short in their FA Cup second round defeat to Gillingham on Sunday, writes Rob Stevens.

Slough were beaten 1-0 at Arbour Park as a wonder goal from Darren Oldaker sent the Gills into the third round for the first time since 2012.

Underwood admits it hurts to have come so close to achieving a dream third round tie, but he explained the Rebels can be immensely proud of their performance against League One opposition.

He told the Observer: "I thought we gave everything in the game against Rochdale last season but we came up short. I didn't think we came up short on Sunday.

"Gillingham and Rochdale are both in the bottom end of League One so it shows the progress we've made to put on a performance like that.

"We're getting used to putting in good performances in front of big crowds which is a really good sign.

"It now feels normal to be having these days and it's great. We've just got to keep on having them because this is what we're in football for.

"In a way it's better that we lost in the manner we did because we played so well and can be proud of that. On another day it's the big upset and we're all singing and drinking.

"Neil (Baker, joint-manager) and I hadn't had a huge amount of success in the FA Cup up until last season, but we've reached the second round once and now gone and done it again.

"When the competition comes around next season, we will take all this experience into it. We benefitted on Sunday from the experience last year and hopefully we will benefit from this."

Underwood continued: "It does hurt because you all dream about those massive games and, having come so close, it almost feels worse as well.

"That's what the FA Cup does, it makes you dream. This was a big occasion, but going to places like Old Trafford, Wembley or Anfield are the things you dream of.

"The reality is if things had gone a little bit different we could've had that opportunity, so it does hurt but there's still an immense amount of pride in the way we've played."

Slough return to action in the National League South with a trip to Dartford this Saturday (3pm), and Underwood believes the Rebels can take confidence into the trip to Princes Park.

He said: "In these cup competitions you build up to a big single game but what we're after in the league is that consistency week-in-week-out. That's what we've got to find now but it's not easy to pick them up.

"I think it'll be easier than it was against Rochdale because we felt like we didn't do ourselves justice that night.

"As players and individuals, they'll take pride in their performance on Sunday and take confidence from it.

"We gave them Tuesday off to get their heads around it and recover physically then we got back into training on Thursday to concentrate on Dartford next weekend."