THE FA Cup is an occasion, next best to Christmas Day as the old saying goes, that made many a child, myself included, fall in love with the game that became a lifelong religion.

However, on Saturday the oldest cup competition in the world had no sweet success for Colchester United.

I am normally one to find positives and have been accused of sugar-coating over cracks on occasions, but sadly even I can find little cheer from the weekend.

Now all congratulations to Marine AFC, they arrived with a game plan and executed it with the desired results.

As for the home side, nothing could be further from the truth.

After a dominating display against Stevenage in midweek, we should have had little problem with a side from so low down the pyramid.

Steve Ball and the coaching staff sent out a strong side and even when the game was not going our way changed the formation and brought on attacking subs.

But this time, the fault lays at the feet of the players. There was a display of arrogance from the warm up. But as soon as the game kicked off the basic errors started and sadly did not stop.

Even five-yard passes seemed to be out of the question and nothing clicked.

If you were not sure who was the professional team and who the part-timers were, I’m not sure you would have picked the right side for each.

Some of the fringe players were given chances to shine and impress, as the fans have been calling out for, but it was not to be and some will now have to wait even longer for a second chance.

All in all, a very bad day on the pitch and one that we got the result we deserved.

I for one would not have liked to have been on the end of Steve Ball’s debrief when they sat down for inquiry on what happened.

So that’s both main cups done for this year. We now have to draw the line. Put it to bed and respond quickly.

We have Southend United at home in the newly-branded Papa John’s Trophy tonight and no matter what you think of this competition, we need to beat them.

Then we're at home again on Saturday for the visit of Leyton Orient.

Let's forget what has happened and really bounce back with a convincing win and another three points that will put us in and around the play-offs with a game in hand.

It may seem very negative after Saturday, but the league will always be the main focus and on that front we are going well.

Yes the FA Cup would have brought in extra money that is needed, but we can't cry over spilt milk and now need to all be on the same wavelength and push on in the league.

All being well, Callum Harriott’s hamstring injury will be a minor one and he will be back for the weekend as he has been key so far, along with Ben Stevenson who was also missed against Marine.

Here is to a good week of football and back to winning ways. Up the U’s.