HOLLAND FC joint-boss Rob Batten heaped praise on his battling players after their heartbreaking Essex Premier Cup exit.

The coastal side drew 2-2 against reigning Essex Olympian League champions Harold Wood – then lost 5-4 on penalties in Saturday’s fourth-round tie at FC Clacton’s Rush Green Bowl.

It was a bitterly disappointing way to lose, after goals from Steve Eaton and Harry Barnard.

But Batten, who runs the side with Glenn Cowen, says his side raised their game after Thursday’s 3-1 Essex and Suffolk Border League premier division defeat against Hatfield Peverel.

“After losing in the week, the boys produced a massive reaction,” he said.

“They did themselves proud.

“We brought a couple of youngsters in and changed the shape of our team, but should have won in 90 minutes.

“Instead, we made a couple of unforced, uncharacteristic errors and ended up conceding two preventable goals.

“Harold Wood didn’t have to work for their goals, whereas we did.

“We still played some wonderful football, though, and were the better side.

“We asked the players to perform and do themselves justice, which is exactly what they did.

“That’s why I’m philosophical about losing on penalties.

“Of course, it was disappointing to lose the shoot-out but we didn’t lose the football match.

“The most important thing was to produce a fine performance and if we play like that in our next league game, there should only be one winner.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll get a positive result.”

Holland broke the deadlock in the first half.

From a long pass, Eaton got behind his marker and, seeing the keeper rushing to meet him, coolly lobbed the ball over his head into the empty net.

A Harold Wood then player cut in and drilled home an equaliser before half-time and that was the end of the scoring in 90 minutes.

It meant extra-time was needed and it was the visitors who added a bizarre second goal in the second period.

Holland keeper Alex Ball punched away a cross but, from the edge of the area, a striker saw his hooked cross get caught in the wind and drift into the net.

With just eight minutes left, Holland forced their deserved leveller.

Barnard pounced to net his first senior goal for the club after a scramble.

The tie went to penalties and Harold Wood converted all five of theirs, whereas Holland – for whom Keelan Sorrell was man-of-the-match – missed one and ended up losing 5-4.

Rob Thorne had scored the consolation goal in last week’s defeat against Hatfield Peverel.