WEYMOUTH manager Bobby Wilkinson insisted the Terras “continued to fight” in their 3-2 loss to St Albans despite nursing an FA Cup “hangover”.

Wilkinson’s men appeared jaded from their considerable efforts in the 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon and two errors were punished by Shaun Jeffers as the Saints led 2-0 at half-time.

The Terras pulled a goal back through debutant Brendan Willson’s diving header but Mitchell Weiss restored the two-goal cushion late on.

Tom Bearwish’s 88th-minute goal gave Weymouth a sniff of a draw but the visitors were unable to stage a late comeback, slipping to a 12th defeat of the season.

READ MORE: St Albans City 3-2 Weymouth - match report

Wilkinson told Echosport: “I’m very proud of the way we competed in the second half. You could see the first half there was a hangover and some heavy legs out there.

“The boys continued to fight right up until the 90th minute. We had a couple of good chances but it’s still frustrating because it’s another loss.”

On the FA Cup efforts taking their toll, Wilkinson added: “I knew that would happen but let’s not make that an excuse.

“We’ve gone out, competed really well but we’ve lost 3-2.”

Wilkinson took issue with Weymouth’s creaky defence, which allowed City’s top scorer Shaun Jeffers to bag a brace.

“The number nine had a free header – you’ve got to mark,” he said.

“Then we got caught with the sucker break when we were challenging them to score. I personally reckon six weeks ago we might’ve folded, but we kept going.

“We got it back to 2-1 and we’re going to try and get the draw at 2-2. Then, we got caught with another sucker goal, what is so frustrating.

“We get it back to 3-2 and then we were fighting to get it back to 3-3. The boys done me proud, they didn’t give up.”

Weymouth goalkeeper Zaki Oualah made a number of big saves to keep the Terras in it, but Wilkinson felt his opposite number Dylan Berry was just as busy.

He said: “Both goalkeepers were kept busy, the difference is with us is that when we get in that final third we just don’t open up the doors.

“We had a lot of ball but we just don’t find that final pass. Both goalkeepers were worked, but ours made three worldies. It was a competitive end-to-end game.”

And Wilkinson dismissed suggestions that momentum generated by the FA Cup run had been partially lost by the defeat.

“Momentum hasn’t been lost,” he said. “Tiredness came in and caught the lads, a few heavy legs.

“I freshened it up a little bit but it was tough. To play against AFC Wimbledon on such a high, you have to deal with that.

“Everyone needs to deal with that as a football club. The boys just didn’t give up, they kept fighting and working hard.

“I’m just not happy that we didn’t win. We’ve got to start winning some league games.”