TIVIDALE boss Dave King took the blame for his side's FA Vase exit.

Dale lost 3-1 at Chelmsley Town last Saturday as they crashed out of the competition.

However,King was quick to hold his hands up after the defeat.

He said: "We're not a cup team this year. We certainly could have done more and I have to take the blame for that.

"I may have foolishly underestimated the opposition slightly and rotated the squad and played a few others out of position and I'll hold my hands up and take the blame on this occasion.

"The lads didn't play to their normal levels but I got the tactics wrong."

Tivi will now return to league action this week as they face the first of four key fixtures.

They are set to go to Haughmond on Tuesday night before welcoming Shawbury United to the Beeches this Saturday (3pm).

Those games will be followed by away trips to Wolverhampton Casuals next Tuesday on Malvern Town on Saturday, September 29.

"It wasn't to be in the FA Vase but the league was always going to be our priority this season and we now have a really tough run of games coming up.

"The next four games are going to be massive for us even though it is early in the season. They may not decide too much at this stage but there really is a statement to be made."

Liam Wilkinson picked up an ankle injury in the warm-up but should recover to feature on Tuesday night.

The game will also be Darragh Bustin's 100th for the club.