Sutton United’s dream of reaching the FA Trophy final at Wembley is over, but head coach Ian Baird says his patched up side did all they could.

A 2-1 extra-time defeat at Bognor Regis tells little of the story – but United could be resuming their push for promotion out of National League South on Saturday missing up to six key players through injury.

Following last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Gander Green Lane, Tuesday night’s replay survived a pitch inspection and United soon found themselves 1-0 down when Jason Prior poked the Rocks ahead.

Stuart Fleetwood won and then converted a first half penalty – his first competitive goal – to haul United level.

However, an extra-time own goal by Dean Beckwith put the hosts in the driving seat, and United, who had made all their substitutions, were not helped when skipper Jamie Collins limped off with 10 minutes remaining.

Baird also had to withdraw Craig Dundas and Nicky Bailey from the action, as they struggled with fitness.

He said: “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot in extra-time. We have played a silly blind ball when other people were facing, and they have broken on us.

“It was a difficult cross to deal with and Dean [Beckwith] has headed it in, but you cannot point any blame at him.

“I have told the players they can look at themselves in the mirror – they have all worked their socks off, and everyone thought it was always going to go to penalties.

“But, we scored for them, and we’re disappointed, but we have to use that disappointment to kick us on for promotion.”

United, who could be without Collins, Craig McAllister, Dan Spence, Kevin Amankwaah, Dundas, Bailey and Simon Downer, host Bath City this weekend.

Baird added: “It is a must win game, we need to bounce back. But who is going to be fit, I have not got a clue.”