JOINT-boss Nick Stocker refused to push the panic button despite “the worst team performance I can remember” resulting in Tenbury United's crash out of the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl.

The county league title-chasers nudged in front of Ewyas Harold against the run of play when Simon Newhill opened the scoring at Palmer’s Meadow but the visitors levelled by half-time.

And the inevitable came to pass when United shipped three goals in 20 second-half minutes to lose 4-1, wrecking any hope of a third final in as many seasons.

Things might have been different had Gavin Podmore or Dan Gittens converted presentable chances with the score at 2-1 but it was not to be.

“It was a tough day for everyone involved and probably the worst team performance I can remember in my time at the club,” said Stocker.

“We just couldn’t get going. We had a couple of lads drop out late on and I had to convince Dan Gittens to play even though he had a sickness bug.

“But there were no excuses for how poor we were on the day. Harold had a couple of young lads who really played well, they completely deserved their victory and we wish them luck in the final.

“I really laid into the boys at half-time but some days it doesn’t matter how much you try, when it isn’t your day things just go against you. Saturday was one of those.

“The performance was that bad I wasn’t even angry at the final whistle. I’ve been around long enough now to realise this happens, every team has bad days.

“We couldn’t have been any worse and the only positive we could take was that it was a cup match.”

And that light at the end of the tunnel shone brighter once Stocker learned of Premier Division title rivals Hinton’s first league defeat of the season.

“We go to Hinton on Saturday and Orleton's result there at the weekend gives us a real chance to close the gap,” he added.

“Anything is possible with the gap coming down to eight points. We have two games in hand and still have to play them twice.

“I just hope the boys don’t lose belief in what they can achieve. It was one poor performance and a win on Saturday would go a long way to erasing it from our memories.”

Division One leaders Tenbury Town maintained their own title pursuit by racking up a 10-1 victory over rock-bottom Orleton Colts Reserves.

Mark Boucker (2), Adam Everall, Jack Farrar and Toby Gittens got on the score sheet with another five coming from substitutes as Keiran Fish netted a hat-trick and Adam Andre Pereira a double.

Ross Hurley got Orleton’s goal with the hosts, who have yet to register a point this season, at least keeping things close for the first 45 minutes – the half-time score was 2-1.

The result consigned former Town manager Bob Sumner to a 17th straight league defeat in charge of Orleton’s second string.

Town entertain Hinton Reserves on Saturday (2.30).