HAND on heart, beaten Sydenhams Premier heroes Brockenhurst cannot begrudge Wealdstone their place in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

But proud boss Pat McManus was spot on in his assessment that the Badgers ill deserved to have their brilliant run ended by a severe 5-1 scoreline at Grigg Lane yesterday.

With non-League journeyman Jefferson Louis bullying the Brock defence and winning just about every aerial battle, there’s an argument to say the Foresters could have been further in arrears before skipper Mark Barker wiped out Louis’ 13th-minute opener shortly before half-time.

But, though Wealdstone’s National League South quality told, Millbrook-based Barker – who looked comfortably at home against three leagues higher opposition – could well have bagged a hat-trick.

The classy 25-year-old had two good chances in stoppage time at the end of the game - one clawed off the line by keeper Jon North, the other hitting the top netting.

Alas for Brock, those efforts were sandwiched between two last-gasp strikes from the north London visitors which gave a hugely unrealistic slant to the scoreline.

“We’re a bit deflated because I don’t think the score was a fair reflection,” said McManus.

“It was a monumental effort from our boys, but I’m just disappointed with the scoreline and the nature of the goals at the end.

“Even the Wealdstone manager said we didn’t deserve to lose 5-1.”

In every other aspect, it was a win-win afternoon for the Badgers.

Under new chairman Stan Reid the club has a real buzz about it and they pulled out all the stops to make it a memorable occasion for the 477 crowd, including a guest appearance from Saints' 1976 hero Jim Steele.

With Brock having ousted Fareham, Yate, Mangotsfield and AFC Portchester to get this far, there was an air of expectancy about the place which even Louis’s opener – a looping back header- couldn’t deflate.

The woodwork denied Wealdstone's 6ft 2in powerhouse a second before he turned and thundered in a shot that Badgers 'keeper Callum Maher – named man-of-the-match – did brilliantly to push to safety.

Brock, though, were still very much in the game and how apt that loyal skipper Barker should bring them level with a magical left-foot strike from 20 yards that took a deflection en route to the top corner.

Wealdstone reclaimed the lead through defender Tom Hamblin on 52 minutes, but Brock so nearly reeled them in again when Scott Joyce was denied by a goalline clearance.

Jude Nwachukwu’s failed attempt to deal with Shaun Lucien’s cross resulted in an own goal for 3-1 but, thanks to Maher’s heroics, Louis failed from the penalty spot after Nwachukwu was deemed to have fouled Matt Lowe.

Barker then set up a couple of chances for Badgers sub Kabba Jack before two stoppage-time hammer blows cruelly brought Brock to their knees.

First sub Scott Davies spotted Maher off his line and beat him with an audacious strike from ten yards inside his own half, then Jonny Wright pounced on a gift rebound inside a packed area.

“The lads are down, but I told them to be proud of themselves,” said McManus. "We’ve had a great time getting here and they shouldn’t let the way the game finished detract from that.”

Brockenhurst: Callum Maher, Jude Nwachukwu, Jack Masterton, Jack Smith, Richie Hayter, Matt Vokes (Elliot Richards, 80), Ryan Long (Callum Williams, 84), Jake Long, Scott Joyce, Matt Casey (Kabba Jack, 70), Mark Barker. Subs: (not used( Toby Cuss, Jack Burrows, Corey Cherrett, Geoff Sim.

Attendance: 477.