MANAGER Sean Edwards says Westfields players “can be really proud of themselves” after reaching the first round of the FA Cup.

Edwards told his wife before Monday’s replay he felt Westfields’ best chance of beating Curzon Ashton had been in the original tie on November 5.

Westfields put up a valiant battle in Greater Manchester and created a host of chances before slipping to a 3-1 defeat on Monday.

Edwards said: “The boys can be really proud of themselves.

“It’s disappointing we could only play 14 players out of the 18 available.

“It’s difficult when you’re asking lads to take a day off work on a Monday so soon after the weekend, but to come and put on a performance like we did at Curzon was great.

“Everyone saw us play football, not once did we kick and run.

“Maybe at times we were a little bit too respectful of Curzon in the first half because I thought we could have been a little bit more aggressive.”

He said: “I said to my wife before the game that our best chance of victory came in the first game.

“We would needed to have played exceptionally well and Curzon would have needed an off day without any luck.”

Curzon striker Adam Morgan broke the deadlock with an effort which took a deflection and he added a second goal before the break.

“The first two goals killed us off a little bit and changed our game plan,” said Edwards.

“The first goal was a bit of a lucky deflection and Morgan hit his second goal well, but I thought our goalkeeper should have saved it.”

Edwards felt Westfields missed the pace of Sirdic Grant, who was sidelined after failing a fitness test.

“The lads have done everything, but we would have had pace down both sides,” he added.

“I could not ask any more of the players. They gave everything.”