Missing out on Spurs tie is a ‘pretty sick’ feeling

Paul Doswell admitted he was left feeling 'pretty sick' as the Hawks discovered they missed out on a huge FA Cup home tie with Premier League leaders Tottenham.

And the 54-year-old boss revealed there was a 'sombre' feeling within the squad at training yesterday after failing to make the most of their 'massive opportunity'.

The Hawks' FA Cup conquerors - eighth-tier Marine - were handed a meeting with Jose Mourinho's Spurs side next month as reward for reaching the third round.

With the shock last-gasp extra-time defeat at the Merseysiders still hurting, Doswell's troops had the added blow of discovering Harry Kane, Heung Min-Son and co would have visited Westleigh Park had they beaten Neil Young’s side.

Instead, while Marine are hosting Tottenham, the Hawks are due to make a National League South trip to Chippenham Town on FA Cup third round weekend.

And Doswell conceded it will be tough 'mentally' to pick themselves up over the coming weeks.

‘It was a sombre mood if the truth be known,' revealed the Hawks boss.

‘The disappointment was compounded really having seen the draw last night, I can’t lie about it.

‘These opportunities very rarely come along. There’s no point in going back too much but for the whole, club, the supporters and the players - if we’d had Tottenham coming in four weeks’ time the place would have been a buzz. That’s the disappointment even more.

‘We told them, we told the players it was an opportunity and a chance.

‘It would have been us but that’s the nature of this competition.

‘It doesn’t stop you feeling pretty sick about the whole thing.

‘The mentality is getting back on the bike but we could have had Mourinho, Bale and Kane turning up. It’s hard to get your head around that.

‘I think the players realised it was a big opportunity for them missed to have that sort of game and be on the live TV again and against the Premier League leaders - it couldn’t have got any better than that.'

The Hawks can ill-afford to reflect on what might have been, though.

They begin a run of three home fixtures in eight days with Hemel Hempstead the visitors to Westleigh Park tonight (7.45pm).

It provides Doswell's 11th-placed side with the chance to gain some muchneeded momentum having played just five league games.