MANAGER Steve Appleby said he was proud of his Wisbech Town players after a late goal condemned them to a 3-2 defeat in the Cambs Invitation Cup semi-final.

Striker Chris Bacon twice equalised for the battling Fenmen in last night’s clash, but Adam Marriot’s 89th minute winner sent the higher-level Lilywhites into the final.

Appleby tinkered with his formation by employing Joe Jackson and Jack Friend alongside Bacon up front - and he was encouraged by what he saw.

“We just wanted to try something different,” he said. “We had absolutely nothing to lose so it was the game to try it.

“It was very promising and I can see us using that system again. We can have a lot of pride in that performance.”

The Fenmen boss, who had a “diplomatic conversation” with the referee after the game, felt City should have had a men sent off and was further frustrated by the decision to award the Lilywhites a second-half penalty.

Appleby was also frustrated on Saturday as goals from Callum Reed and Joe Jackson could only secure a 2-2 draw with Norwich United.

“Two silly errors cost us,” he said. “There’s no room for errors any more.

“We’ve got to get our heads down and get on a run. We’re not playing badly and there is certainly no panic.”

Wisbech, who sit sixth in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, will be without the injured Neal Spafford and Callum Reed and the suspended Steven Reid when they host Ely City on Saturday.