Ian Allinson apologised to Boreham Wood’s supporters after taking full responsibility for Saturday’s 4-0 FA Trophy defeat against Concord Rangers.

The Wood’s Conference South rivals spectacularly dumped Allinson’s table-toppers out the FA Trophy at the third qualifying round stage after the manager made five changes to the side which had beaten Weston-super-Mare in midweek.

Player-coach Mario Noto came in for Graeme Montgomery, Arsenal loanee Austin Lipman took the place of Junior Morias, David Moli started ahead of Lee Angol, Scott Thomas was preferred to Ricky Shakes, and in an enforced changed, MK Dons loanee Harry Hickford was handed his full debut, deputising for the suspended Josh Hill.

However the changes did not pay dividends and goals from James White, Tony Stokes, Joe Gardner and Lewis Taafe ensured it would be a miserable afternoon for the league leaders against the Beachboys.

Speaking to the club’s website, Allinson shouldered the blame for defeat on Canvey Island. He said: “I have to take ultimate responsibility for that [defeat], as I did rest key players. Those key players have on reflection scored close to 30 goals already this season but I’ll say it again. If we’re going to mount any sort of play-off challenge then I’ve got to manage a small but talented squad, manage a growing belief and work with a tight budget.

“I am going to have to make tough calls and I will need all my players to be mentally tough, disciplined, remain match fit and to be ready to put a shift in whenever they are called upon.”

He added: “I do apologise to our supporters, as our performance at Concord was below the standards we’ve set in the league.”

Allinson was however quick to underline the credentials of those players who came into the side at Concord, which included loanees from Premier League side Arsenal and League One outfit MK Dons.

“Every player I put in the side on Saturday has a pedigree, has talent, had my trust and had earned the right to play or they wouldn’t have started,” stated Allinson. “In hindsight, I have to be honest and say some of them simply didn’t turn up and if you do not apply yourselves at this level then you lose football matches.”

He continued: “My players knew what to expect, they all knew their jobs, and most importantly, they had the chance to impress me and stake a claim for a start against Hayes next Saturday. I need every player from one to 16 to be ambitious, hungry and adapt to bad pitches, set backs and tough conditions.

“We’ve shown all season we can bounce back but unfortunately that was not the case on Saturday.”

Winning the third qualifying round tie was worth £4,000 to Concord, whilst victory against Conference side Barnet in the first round proper could be worth a further £5,000 to the Essex outfit – something Allinson is acutely aware of.

“The FA Trophy is an important competition on a number of levels not least of all the financials,” he noted. “So I’m very disappointed to go out without a fight but the league has to be my priority this season. That said I can take nothing away from Concord, they were better than us all over the park and I wish them the best of luck in the next round.

“I will ensure there is now a positive response to our defeat and if we can come out the traps and beat Hayes this Saturday and keep our unbeaten league run going, then the club, the players and our supporters, can have a decent December and a very good Christmas.”