Larry Chambers believes AFC Telford United can use their brave FA Cup exit as motivation to push further up the Blue Square North.

The Bucks suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to League Two side Lincoln City on Saturday to be knocked out of the competition at the first round stage for the second consecutive season.

But assistant manager Chambers believes the quality of their display can only give confidence as they bid to get back in the thick of the promotion race.

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“There were a lot of positives, a lot of good performances, and we’ve got to use that to help us push up the league.

“There were a lot of eights and nines out of 10 out there, and there’s no reason why we can’t kick on from here,” he said.

“Anyone watching the game as a neutral probably couldn’t tell who was the League side and who was the non-League side.

“But the one thing is they were clinical. We had opportunities and our quality let us down – that’s the difference between sides at this level and sides in the Football League.

“I’d like to think the fans were happy we gave it a good go.”

Telford had been a goal behind to the Imps at half-time but got back in it with Liam Blakeman scoring his fourth of the season four minutes into the second half.

That signalled a spell of heavy pressure by the Bucks, but Lincoln responded with two goals on the break to progress to the second round.

“It’s the sort of display that we can be proud of,” said Chambers.

“We came in at half-time and said whatever happens second half, don’t let it pass you by because you’ve got an opportunity.

“I thought we were superb – we scored the equaliser, which I thought was a great goal, and for 10 minutes after that we were the better side.

“If we’d got the second goal I think we could have gone on and won it.”

By CHRIS HUDSON