A disappointing FA Trophy exit last Saturday was followed by a stark warning to the Wisbech Town squad.

The Fenmen bowed out of the national competition when beaten 2-0 at Yaxley – the team who pipped them to the United Counties League Premier Division title last season – in a first qualifying replay.

Boss Gary Setchell and number two Daz Edey were left seething with the standard of the performance produced during a costly defeat with Wisbech missing out on valuable prize money and the prospect of very winnable ties in the next two rounds.

Their side was undone by a Yaxley goal in each half. Toby Hilliard then struck the post on two occasions as the Fenmen unsuccessfully searched for a way back into the game.

“We were terrible,” said Edey. “And the gaffer let the lads know exactly how he felt after the game.

“To go out of the Trophy like that is a massive disappointment both on a financial level and because we didn’t even come close to doing ourselves justice

“But we can promise the lads that the holiday is over. It is now a case of needing to write a few wrongs and start to do things more thoroughly.

“We feel the squad needs shaking up a little bit, but we’re also well aware we need to ensure any additions we make add quality.

“That is certainly not easy giving our location, our league position and the fact our budget is not the best, but all of those things can be overcome if players want to be a part of this club.

“And that is what we need right now . . . players who buy in to what we expect of them.”

Setchell’s post-match rocket last Saturday appeared to have the desired effect as Wisbech fared better in another knockout competition on Tuesday night.

They swept to a 6-0 success against Linton Granta – a team who play three levels lower – to reach the semi-finals of the Cambs Invitation Cup.

Recent signing Toby Hilliard hit a hat-trick while fellow new arrival from King’s Lynn, Eoin McQuaid, opening his Fenmen account.

Alex Beck and Danny Setchell (from the penalty spot) also contributed to the club’s biggest win of the season. Beck saw another effort disallowed and hit the woodwork on three occasions!

Wisbech switch their attention back to climbing the Northern Premier League Division One East table this Saturday.

The second-bottom Fenmen face a tough trip to Yorkshire to face fourth-placed Brighouse, 3pm and they could have a new defensive recruit in place by then.

Edey added: “We can take confidence from the performance we produced and the goals we scored in midweek.

“The gaffer demanded the lads put the hard work in and it had an effect.”