WREXHAM boss Dean Saunders said Ebbsfleet United could have scored more during their FA Trophy quarter-final replay victory:

"It's very disappointing. The first half was quite an even game and second half we came out and scored a goal.

"It was a bad mistake from their full-back and Jeff's finished well. Then I thought we got what we deserved after that. They could have scored more.

"Some of the goals I couldn't believe had gone in.

"Wardy made a save from a penalty and they could have got a few more.

We just didn't have enough people who performed to what they can do."

Praising Ebbsfleet for the way they performed in advancing to the last four, Saunders added: "We prepared right, came down on Monday and stayed overnight, and you have to give them a bit of credit. I thought they played really well,

"The centre-forward (Michael Gash) messed us around all night, played well and looked dangerous, and we found it difficult to cope with him.

But I have got to hold my hands up and say they deserved to win."

Saunders said he felt that for the first time since he took charge at the start of October, Wrexham looked vulnerable.

"I didn't think we could look as vulnerable as we did tonight," said Saunders. "We haven't since I have been here and I am a bit surprised how vulnerable we looked.

"But you have got to give them credit. We have played teams and had 17 chances against them - I wonder what their manager was saying when they went back in the dressing room.

"It was a combination of us not having enough people out there playing to their best, and them playing really well, they deserved to beat us."

Ebbsfleet's last two goals came through shots from outside the area but Saunders refused to blame keeper Ward who had earlier saved a penalty on the hour mark following Andrew Crofts' foul on Neil Barrett with the score tied at 1-1.

"I would like to have a look at the DVD before I start having a moan about the goals going in," said Saunders. "But I was shocked when both went in (from outside the area), although I will see the DVD before complaining about anything.

"Wardy has made saves in games and pulled us out of the mire at times, and the boys at the other end have missed bags full of chances at times. That is the same as making mistakes at the other end.

"We will just get on with it. We are a team, we stick together, and I want to see a big reaction from them on Saturday.

Despite Louis taking advantage of a defensive error, Ebbsfleet keeper Lance Cronin had a quiet evening.

"We didn't create too many chances," said Saunders. "We had a few right at the end but we didn't really cut them to shreds.

"And we did give the ball away again at times. I thought we would be better tonight on a nice pitch that suited us.

"Jeff had one of his better games, he won a lot of headers, but they played a high line against us and we couldn't work out how to make the right runs at the right time."

Defeat means Wrexham can focus on the priority of promotion in the final two months of the season.

Wrexham, sixth in the table following last night's results, have got 17 matches remaining in a bid to secure a play-off berth,

Although disappointed to bow out of the Trophy, the one consolation for Saunders is that Wrexham would not have to re-arrange two league fixtures next month to accommodate a two-legged semi-final.

And Saunders is looking for Wrexham to bounce back against Salisbury City at The Racecourse on Saturday, adding: "We have got to react to that now and come back.

"We can't win every game. We have done great up until now so we have had our kick in the teeth there tonight.

"We have just got to roll our sleeves up. The only consolation is we have got two less games to squeeze in.

"I have been brought here to try and get the club out of the league so that is the only consolation - but is doesn't make it any easier to swallow the way that we played."