Soham Town Rangers joint manager Robbie Nightingale says his side need to more clinical in front of goal after they were pipped to a place in the next round of the FA Cup by higher-level Rushall Olympic.

The Greens hosted the Step 3 outfit at Julius Martin Lane on Tuesday night after drawing the first leg 2-2 and dominated for large periods, but were edged out by an early goal from the visitors’ Josh McKenzie.

Underdogs Soham were arguably the better side over both legs, but Nightingale says his men need to turn positive performances into results sooner rather than later.

“Saturday summed our up early season form, if I’m honest,” he said.

“We had lots of good chances and played some exciting football without getting our just deserts. Their manager came off the pitch on Saturday and said ‘we got away with that.’

“We just need to start converting our chances, which I’ve been saying all season.

“Over the two games, we haven’t got the right results and football is all about results. You can come away saying ‘we played well’ but getting the three points or a place in the next round is what it’s all about.

“At the moment I’d take a scrappy 1-0 win rather than playing well and losing.”

Soham secured a well-deserved replay on Saturday through goals from Darren Foxley and new signing Victor Adeboyejo, but couldn’t find a way through a dogged Rushall defence in Tuesday’s replay.

“If we had scored one then we would have gone on to win the game,” Nightingale said.

“They got their goal early on and sat back and defended their 18-yard box really well.

“We just needed that little bit of luck and composure. We were taking shots from 25 yards out when looking up and playing one more pass might have been the better option.”

Soham return to league action on Saturday when they entertain Brentwood Town, and Nightingale is expecting his players to produce the same brand of attacking football that they displayed against Rushall.

“We’re going to keep doing the same; playing attacking football and hopefully come Saturday things will change,” said Nightingale.

“I can’t fault the work-rate, the hunger and the desire from the players.

“We’ve got all the components of a great side but we just need to be more ruthless in games and in front of goal. I’ve no doubt that the results will eventually come.”