Eastbourne Borough are not feeling sorry for themselves after their last-gasp FA Trophy defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge.

They are ready to use the experience to challenge for silverware in the second half of the season.

Borough were only denied a replay at Priory Lane by an 89th-minute goal by the Conference giants and although the players still carry the emotional scars of Daggers' final cruel cut, there was much to be pleased about.

Coach Nick Greenwood said: "Although we were very disappointed to lose, we were also delighted by the manner of the performance.

"We have trained very hard this week and the players are upbeat. We certainly are not sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves.

"The Trophy was kind of a natural end to the first half of the season. We are ninth in the league and still in a couple of cups so we have lots to look forward to. We want to go on and win something."

He added: "We beat Hastings Town 3-0 over Christmas and certainly deserved a draw at Dagenham so the players have definitely got it in them to reach the highest levels.

"The priority is for the players to get up for every game they play not just the big games. We have to play like that week in, week out.

"The trouble is we have slipped up against sides we shouldn't have and dropped silly points. It is with the same players which did so well at Dagenham and against Hastings. That is partly down to experience and maybe players have to learn to motivate themselves individually for each and every game.

"Trophies are not won in front of 2,000 people but in front of 50 people on a cold Saturday afternoon in November."

As Borough embark on the second half of the season, there is more good news with defender Stuart Tuck fit again after a back injury while Matt Smart is also over a knee problem. Both players trained this week and were in the squad for today's trip to St Leonards.

Dean Lightwood was also set to make his comeback today from a long-term injury when Eastbourne Borough's reserves entertained Worthing at Priory Lane.