Barnet boss Dean Brennan gave an honest assessment of his side’s lack of intensity as they crashed out of the FA Trophy with a 2-0 quarter-final loss at Bromley.

Michael Cheek’s first-minute strike got Brennan’s men off to the worst possible start before the home side doubled their advantage just after the hour mark to end the Bees’ Wembley dream.

“You can’t start a game of football the way we started and expect to win here,” Brennan said.

“They’re a good side, Bromley. They’re up in the top end of the division for a reason, and they deserved to win first and foremost as they were the better team.

"But some of our lads have to take a look at themselves. I thought our performance levels were really low.

“You have to look at our injury situation. There's not one fit centre-half at our club this afternoon, so we’re having to play full-backs at centre-half. It’s frustrating.”

On the injuries, Brennan looked at the positives and suggested his side has done extremely well to accumulate the points they have in recent weeks.

“It didn’t help the team at all today. Okimo’s out with his groin, and Pritchard’s out with his back," he told the club website.

“The volume of games we’ve had - I've got to say on the positives - to pick up 12 points from our last six league games has been a miracle. It’s been a miraculous effort from our lads, as we’ve had so many key players injured, and they’re huge players for us.”.

Despite the loss, Brennan assured supporters he wouldn’t let heads drop going into what will be the most gruelling period of the season as the Bees continue their fight to seal promotion to League Two.

“I’m not down. The main priority for us is promotion, so with a bit of luck, we’ve got to get into the play-offs first and foremost," he added.

“We’re in second at the minute, so we’re in control of that, so can we stay in control of that in the last nine games?

"I thank our supporters for coming, but we’ve got to get The Hive buzzing."

The Bees hold a two-point lead over Bromley and sit in second place in the National League table, having now played the same number of games as their London counterparts.

Having seen Tuesday's game with Eastleigh postponed, Brennan’s men visit Woking on Saturday, before playing host to Dorking Wanderers the following weekend.