WEYMOUTH manager Bobby Wilkinson labelled his Terras side “phenomenal” after exiting the FA Cup following a 3-1 defeat to AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.

Weymouth once again caused the Dons major problems and were unlucky not to take the lead when the outstanding Tom Blair missed an open goal and Xander McBurnie hit the bar.

However, injuries to Harry Kyprianou and Luke Nippard hurt Weymouth as Ayoub Assal put the hosts 1-0 up before a quickfire brace from sub Ethan Chislett made it 3-0.

Brad Ash then grabbed a richly deserved consolation to do the magnificent Weymouth support proud.

READ MORE: AFC Wimbledon 3-1 Weymouth - how it happened

Speaking to the assembled media post-match, Wilkinson said: “Weren’t my players just phenomenal?

“You don’t really say that word a lot, we were just unbelievable – especially in the first half.

“I can’t speak (any higher) of them. We came as a group. I’m speechless for the first time. I just can’t believe how fantastic we were.

“To lose my left-back and central midfielder and have to play a central midfielder at right-back, I could only have four on the bench.

“That was quite hurtful when I needed to bring a defender on but I couldn’t have one on the bench because they’re cup-tied – that’s football.

“We got on with it as a group and my boys deserve all the credit they’re going to get.”

AFC Wimbledon are now eight games unbeaten but the Terras could have wounded the Dons in a dynamite first-half display.

Wilkinson said: “We missed that open goal to go 1-0 and then we should’ve had the second one.

“This is a wonderful football club with a great manager. If you don’t take those chances, they’re always going to get three chances like they did.

“The injuries destroyed us for that 15 minutes where we conceded three.”

He added: “It’s all about the fans here, 500 here through a crisis and the weather. They were singing and chanting the whole game.

“I’m very emotional but very proud. You can see I brought all the boys together. These people paid good money.

“They support us, they pay petrol, we talk about this in our changing room. We fight for them as much as us.

“We’re trying to bring a family to this club. They’re driving home, they’re on those coaches. We gave everything.”