Assistant manager Jesse Smith has praised Chipstead's character and endurance after another difficult Tuesday night at High Road resulted in a 4-3 extra-time defeat to local rivals Merstham in the FA Cup.
After Fabio Saraiva missed a penalty in the first minute on Tuesday night, Chipstead took the lead through Dan Llacer before Marc-Anthony Okoye equalised on 25 minutes.
Dan Moody gave Chipstead the lead again, but Merstham were awarded another penalty, and Saraiva made no mistake the second time to make it 2-2.
With the scores level at full-time in the replay, the game went to extra-time and on 107 minutes, Merstham took the lead for the first time through another Saraiva goal.
Chipstead substitute Juan Onieva made it 3-3 before Saraiva completed his hat-trick and decided the game with a sublime free-kick on 117 minutes.
But after beating Whitstable Town 3-2 last Tuesday with nine men, Smith believes his players deserve credit for their efforts in the last few games.
"We played 35 minutes last Tuesday with nine men, then we have had extra-time this week; I should imagine the players' legs are like mine – feeling proper old!" he joked. "I don't know how they did it. I can't knock them; they are top lads. Of course it's harsh to lose like this. You'd sooner lose in 90 and go home.
"It was a good game of football and probably great for the neutral. To be fair to Merstham, I think they had a little bit more experience than us in dealing with these situations. But we were never going to win the FA Cup.
"The lads are disappointed but we have to get our heads up and go on. There's no point in sulking about it. There will be a few aches in the morning I'm sure and I don't know what they'll be doing at training on Thursday, probably out here eating a curry!"
