BILLERICAY Town were made to pay for seven costly minutes as they were knocked out of the FA Cup thanks to a 4-0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers.

The National League South side found themselves three goals adrift at the break thanks to Matty Stevens, Joseph Mills and Jack Aitchison netting in quick succession.

Liam Shephard added his name to the scoresheet after the interval to ensure Billericay would not reach the second round of the competition for the first time in their history and player-manager Jamie O’Hara admits Town could not match the League Two table-toppers at the New Lawn.

“I thought we were fantastic for the first 35 minutes,” said O’Hara.

“The game plan was to frustrate them. We knew they would be good on the ball and we stuck to it until the first goal.

“Seven minutes is what made the game what it was.

“I thought we could have a go at them in the second half if we went in at half-time either goalless or a goal down, but conceding three goals in the space of seven minutes killed it for us.

“I told the players not to give up at half-time. All of the supporters travelled down to watch us and spent good money to get there, so we had to go out with some pride and give our all.

“We had a great run and we knew in the end that we were just not good enough. It was a step too far for us.”

Stevens headed Forest Green in front from close range before Mills’ strike crept under Billericay goalkeeper Alan Julian and Aitchison fired home deep in first half injury time to put the home side in the ascendancy.

Forest Green notched a fourth goal of the afternoon as Shephard’s deflected strike wrong-footed Julian and found the bottom corner of the net on 65 minutes.

Billericay thought they had pulled a goal back when Jake Robinson pounced on a Joe Wollacott error but the striker was frustrated by a late offside call.

Although Billericay went out of the competition, O’Hara was keen to praise the raucous travelling fans.

“The supporters were incredible and seeing them follow us all over the country is great,” added O’Hara.

“They are there for us home and away.

“We had great support at the fans’ forum and then they came to the game singing throughout.

“It really is an honour to be part of the football club when you have fans like that.

“They support us through thick and thin and we really are going through thick and thin at the moment.

“I lost two players who probably would have started before the game.

“It’s been difficult but the boys have been fantastic.

“Hopefully, with everything sorted out off the pitch, we can kick on and push on in the league.”