STEVE Hollick is urging some of his absentee players to reassess their priorities after they left AFC Totton in the lurch for today's FA Cup preliminary round tie at Gillingham Town

The Stags were stunned 2-0 by the Western Premier underdogs and miss out on a home showdown with Cirencester Town in the first qualifying round.

Although unwilling to mention names, manager Hollick was clearly upset that some key members of his Southern One South & West squad were missing for “non-footballing reasons.”

He accepts that he and his coaching staff also need to look at themselves following a disastrous week that kicked off with an embarrassing 6-1 league defeat by Larkhall Athletic on Tuesday.

But he finds it hard to stomach the growing trend of players snubbing football for holidays and stag dos.

To make matters worse today, new defensive signing Jack Vallis – a former Gillingham player – pulled up injured in the warm-up for the second game running, while star man Mike Gosney, who was looking to return from a twisted stomach, could not get a scan done in time.

Those players who did make the trip were caught cold when Aiden Chainey lobbed ’keeper Steve Mowthorpe with just two minutes gone and it lurched from bad to worse early in the second half when Will Agbo netted the underdogs’ second.

“I don’t want to be too critical of the lads who played. There was no lack of effort, they tried, but it was the manner of the goals we conceded,” sighed the boss.

“But the buck stops with me and there’s got to be some fall-out from this.

“I’m anticipating a frank discussion with the chairman in the next couple of days and where that leads only time will tell.

“A result like this shouldn’t happen but, all credit to Gillingham, maybe they wanted it more than we did.

“We had lots of players out today and one or two decided a holiday was more important. We expect a bit more commitment.

“It’s disappointing when other things are more of a priority to players than football, which should be a job for them.

“After Tuesday and today serious questions have to be asked.

“Getting the opportunity to play in the FA Cup should be something special and to go out with a whimper is hard to take.

“Aside from the massive financial implications, the FA Cup can put you on the map and fans love the romance of the competition.

Totton have had some great Cup victories in the past and I’m extremely disappointed for the supporters, the chairman, vice-chairman and everyone at the club that we couldn’t pass that legacy on.”