BEN Kneller’s thoughts turned to Charles Dickens in the wake of Hamble Club’s galling FA Vase exit at Windsor.

“You feel a bit like Oliver Twist, don’t you?” he confessed. “You want more!”

With a quarter-final place up for grabs at Stag Meadow, Hamble just didn’t perform on the day and were punished 2-0 by their Hellenic Premier Division hosts.

Pondering on what might have been, Kneller said: “The most disappointing thing is that we didn’t give a good account of ourselves and you're left with that feeling of 'what if?' "

“No disrespect to Windsor, but we’d beaten better sides on our run to the last 16.

"But on Saturday we didn’t show up and it’s frustrating because we’re much, much better than that.

“Westfields in the last round were the best side we’ve played in the competition and we turned up that day and got the result.

“But the game passed us by at Windsor. It came and went before we could get involved.

"We should be talking last eight now. It’s such a shame to let it slip away so easily.

"The occasion got the better of a few of our lads and I have to take some accountability too. Did I make the wrong substitutions at the wrong times? Maybe.

“But all the best to Windsor, they’ve got a great set-up there, the pitch is fantastic, they’re a good side and we respect what they do.”

Kneller’s task now is to lift spirits and refocus minds for an important week ahead.

The Monks travel to Sholing on Thursday (7.45pm) in the Southampton Senior Cup quarter-finals, host Shaftesbury in the league on Saturday and then go gunning for a place in the Sydenhams League Cup semi-finals at Fawley AFC next Tuesday.

“The Vase was at the forefront of our season, but we’ve got to dust ourselves off and go again,” said Kneller.

“We’re mid-table in the league and still want to break into the top eight.

“If we could beat Sholing, we’d be through to a Senior Cup semi against Blackfield or Team Solent with the possibility of playing Saints in the final at St Mary’s.

“There’s still a lot to play for and we will come again,” he pledged.

"We've got a great group of lads, we'll get them back into training, get spirits up and put smiles back on their faces.

"We've had a good Vase run and earned some good prize money. Now we need to dust ourselves off and go again."

Skipper Liam Crook remains sidelined and left-back Matt Troon limped off with a hamstring problem on Saturday.

Barry Mason is cup-tied for Thursday, but recent signings River Smith and Pat Wilson are both eligible to play.

Mo Nyang is nearing a return after breaking his hand against Blackfield.