Southport manager Liam Watson felt his senior players let him down as his side were beaten 1-0 by AFC Telford in their FA Trophy quarter-final replay.
A Carl Rogers header gave 10-man Telford victory in the replay at Haig Avenue on Tuesday, following Saturday's 2-2 draw in Shropshire.
"Unfortunately some of the senior players didn't perform tonight," Watson told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"You can't expect the younger ones to carry the more experienced."
Telford were reduced to 10 men towards the end of the first half when Lee Vaughan was dismissed for a coming together with Kevin Leadbetter.
Watson was disappointed his side then failed to take the initiative.
"We had a lot of play in the first half but sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition. They've defended well and in the last third we were found wanting," said Watson.
On the dismissal of Vaughan, Watson added: "There was no goalmouth action so all we are talking about is a sending-off - that probably sums up how tight the game was."
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