BROMSGROVE boss Brendan Kelly was pleased to get the reaction he wanted from his players despite it not being enough to prevent an FA Cup exit.

The manager called for more from his players after last weekend’s league defeat to Banbury and saw his side bounce back to battle to the very end against Stourbridge.

The Glassboys won the first qualifying round clash 1-0 at the Victoria Ground thanks to Greg Mills’ second half strike.

However, Kelly was taking the positives from the defeat, especially the way his players showed their fight.

He said: “I’m pleased with the reaction. It was like chalk and cheese compared to last week.

“The work ethic was there, we looked hungry and we started very brightly.

“For large parts of the first half we were the better side and we haven’t taken our chances today and I don’t think lady luck was on our side.

“But I was after a reaction and I got it. The never-say-die attitude was there and we still had them pinned in with 10 men but it wasn’t to be.”

Kelly had to watch the second half from the stands after getting sent off following his dissent when a handball shout was turned down by the referee.

He added: “It’s the handball decision that I’m confused about. We have been told that if it hits the hand, no matter how it happens, that it’s a handball. But it wasn’t given in our favour.

“When I asked the question, which I may have asked a bit aggressively, I was sent to the stands without even speaking to me.

“I do feel that games of this magnitude need to be officiated by more mature referees. The man in the middle and the linesman were extremely young in my options.

“But it’s a hard enough job as it is and we certainly aren’t going to use that as an excuse but there were some strange decisions today.”