Wrexham slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Eastwood Town at Coronation Park in their fourth round qualifying replay on Tuesday night after being outplayed by their Unibond League Premier Division hosts.

Prior to the goal-less draw in the first encounter between the sides, Wrexham recorded victories in all three Blue Square Premier matches under Saunders.

That 100 per cent record lifted Wrexham up to eighth position in the table with a game in hand and Ward wants the Reds to build on their recent good form in the league when they host Lewes at The Racecourse on Saturday.

"In the first game against Eastwood, we were poor in the first half but in the second half did enough but did not take our chances.

"If we had taken a couple and won 2-0, everyone would have said what a fantastic start we have had.

"But we did not do that and then put in that performance on Tuesday.

"The fans that went down there must have been pretty disappointed to watch that.

"It was disappointing because since Deano took over as manager, we have done well.

"All of a sudden people think 'here we go.'

"We have to look at it positively and push on in the league starting Saturday.

"We've got to kick on and put in the performance that gets us three points. We have got to look forward now."

Although unhappy not to have secured a place in the first round of the competition, the much travelled Ward is focussed on Wrexham atoning for their poor display at Eastwood by beating bottom of the table Lewes.

"There is nothing we can do about it now," said Ward.

"We might be sore today but that is football.

"We could not beat Eastwood and we have to look ahead to Saturday now. It's another game.

"You are only as good or bad as your last game so hopefully we can rectify it, and put the kind of performance in that gets us a result.

"The league and getting out of it is the most important thing.

"But lets not forget that cup defeat was disappointing."

Ward, who said Tuesday's defeat was one of the lowest moments of his career, was disappointed Wrexham failed to break down a stubborn Eastwood back-line over the two games.

And Ward, who is also Wrexham's goalkeeping coach offered no excuses for the display against the part-timers on Tuesday.

"If I am being brutally honest it is one of the lowest games I have ever played in," said Ward.

"No disrespect to them but to be beaten by a team from two divisions below us, and part-time is hard to take.

"I would not say that over the two games they wanted it more but we never caused them any real problems.

"They set out a game plan and then stuck to it. They put five across midfield and the one in front of the centre-back played very well, while the lone striker worked hard.

"The annoying and disappointing thing is we did not break them down.
"You can blame the pitch, the lights - anything. We were not good enough on the night.

"The performance as a whole from everybody was not good enough."

Ward held his hand up for the error which led to the second goal at Eastwood as he fumbled a shot but he will not let the mistake get to him.

"I did not have a lot to do," added Ward.

"They got the goal they wanted and that was that.

"It was disappointing we never worked their keeper.

"Obviously the second goal was disappointing personally. These things happen and I am big enough and ugly enough to put it behind me.

"It won't affect me in the slightest."

Wrexham Reserves held a Manchester City XI to a 1-1 draw at City's Carrington training ground.

Boss Saunders used a number of un-named trialists with Simon Brown getting the goal.

Saunders was more than happy with the performance, saying: "If we had turned in a display like this at Eastwood, then we wouldn't have found ourselves out of the cup."

Wrexham are back in cup action next Tuesday at Altrincham. They go to Moss Lane in the third round clash in the Setanta Shield.

But they'll have to do without the services of Wes Baynes. His booking at Eastwood was his fifth of the season and he'll be banned for the tie.