FRUSTRATION and disappointment were Rob Small’s overriding emotions after Bowers & Pitsea exited the Essex Senior Cup at the hands of Colchester United.

Bowers were beaten 3-1 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium by the League One giants to exit the competition at the quarter-final stage.

And despite the six division gap that separates the sides, Bowers boss Small couldn’t conceal his exasperation after his side conceded two early goals and missed several chances themselves.

“I feel disappointed and frustrated,” he said. “That said, I think that is a sign of how far this team has come. We have played a side that is made up of professional footballers and I think they had six first-team professionals in the team on Tuesday.

“But we come away from the ground kicking ourselves for giving away a couple of soft goals and missing several good chances.

“I think we could have done a little bit better.”

Colchester raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Dion Sembie-Ferris and Drey Wright, while the former also missed a penalty before the interval.

Wright scored a second before Chris Bryan’s consolation 20 minutes from time, and Small said Bowers impressed him with the way they didn’t allow their heads to drop against fitter opposition.

“Colchester may have eased off at 3-0 up but we still had to keep going and we created some good opportunities that we perhaps should have scored.

“But the boys worked their socks off.”

Bowers have an FA Vase fifth round tie at Ipswich Wanderers to look forward to on Saturday, although they first have to focus on the league, as they bid to close the gap on the leaders.

Bowers, currently seventh, travel to London Bari tonight, having not played in the league since January 2 due to cup commitments and poor weather.

Bryan will be unnavailable for the match due to work commitments, while Tom Hine suffered a reccurence of an injury against Colchester and is out for a fortnight.

l Hullbridge Sports drew 1-1 at Tower Hamlets in the Essex Senior League on Tuesday. Joe Turpin scored Sports’ goal.