ST Neots Town manager Iain Parr was heavily critical of his side after they were beaten in first round qualifying of the FA Trophy at Chasetown, saying: “That was the worst performance of the season by a long way.”

A goal down in four minutes, St Neots were 2-0 by half-time, and waited until the Northern Premier League Division One side were 3-0 up in the second half before sparking into life.

Danb Jacob eventually neeted for the Saints in the 75th minute but it was already too late. An injury time goal from the penalty spot by Ollie Thorne was only a further consolation.

“It’s ironic. In the warm up we looked up for the game, we looked strong, and we looked sharp.

“I am the first one to back every single one of my players if they can put their hands on their hearts and tell me they gave me everything they have got - but I would say, barring Declan Rogers at left back, and Gavin Hoyte at centr half, I think the rest of the guys have got to have a look at their performance today.

“We got this on camera and we will sit down at training and show the guys because it’s unacceptable, performances like that.

“We need to be bigger and stronger and have a couple of leaders in there to organise this side.”

It is the second cup competition St Neots have been knocked out of in successive week following their FA Cup defeat to Boreham Wood the previous Saturday.

But in the game before that, they beat early the Southern League Premier Division’s early pacesetters Hemel Hempstead Town 4-2 – and they are currently sixth in the table after putting some poor early season form behind them.

Parr indicated that he was also unhappy about players missing training, saying: “The performance will partly be down to a real poor attendance in training this week as well by the lads – which I have told them again.

“It’s a fact that you can improve and get better at anything unless you practise at it.

“We need a bit more commitment so we can get a bit more consistency in this football team.”

Parr gave a first start to the former Rangers and Norwich City striker Jack Werndly and he missed a chance in the first minute after a mistake by the Chasetown defence.

But after that it was all one way and only Ed Adjei, the late substitute, looked lively enough to make a difference.

Already 3-0 down, Jacob looped the ball over the Chasetown goalkeeper for 3-1 but there was too many wasted chances before Thorne found the back of the net with that late spot kick.

On Saturday St Neots are back in the league with the long journey to Somerset for a game against Frome Town.

St Neots: Michael Duggan, Jon-Paul Duncliffe, Declan Rogers, Ollie Thorne, Justin Hoyte, Arthur Lee, Lewis Hilliard, Callum Stewart (Ed Adjei), Stefan Moore, Jack Werndly (Chris Manangu), Dan Jacob.