Huntingdon manager Bob Warby has issued a public apology to the club for what he calls an FA Cup ‘atrocity’.

Town were thumped 12-0 by fellow United Counties League Premier Division side Yaxley in an extra preliminary round tie.

It was a wretched result to start Warby’s first full season at the Huntingdon helm and he has shouldered full responsibility for it.

Warby said: “It is a scoreline that you should never see in kids football, let alone in a national competition.

“It is absolutely and entirely my fault. I failed to inspire my players and therefore the buck must stop with me.

“I apologise to the members of Huntingdon Town Football Club who had to endure that atrocity.

“Scoring a bizarre own goal after 37 seconds knocked us sideways, and even though we created seven scoring opportunities in the first half alone, we didn’t attack any of these with conviction and deservedly drew a blank in front of goal.

“It was proof that if you aren’t prepared to do the jobs you perhaps don’t want to do, or you aren’t disciplined in your shape, you’ll get spanked.

“The good news is that we earned the same amount of points in the league as Yaxley did.

“Even though we had a strong summer, I’ve always maintained that it would never be plain sailing. Football never is.

“It’s a blow but it isn’t a knockout.”

Huntingdon are due to train tonight ahead of their first Premier Division fixture at Peterborough side Northern Star on Wednesday.