OXFORD City boss Mark Jones admitted their heartbreaking Emirates FA Cup defeat at Notts County on Saturday made some of his squad cry.

The Vanarama National League South strugglers were seconds away from reaching the third round draw for the first time, only for the hosts to score with virtually the last kick at Meadow Lane to snatch a 3-2 victory.

City twice fought back from behind to level the tie through Rob Sinclair and Matt Paterson in front of the BT Sport cameras.

But Oxfordshire-born Jorge Grant struck from close range in the

95th-minute for the Sky Bet League Two high-fliers to end their dream run.

Boss Mark Jones was gutted to see his side’s Cup exploits end so cruelly.

He said: “It was heartbreaking, there were a few tears in the dressing room.

“The boys gave everything and we were obviously seconds away from a great result and getting them back to our place.

“We thought we were going to be in the hat for the third round.

“It was so so close, and sometimes football and life can be cruel.”

City progressed from the second qualifying round, historically beating Football League opposition for the first time in Colchester United last month on their way to being handed a tie at Meadow Lane.

The part-timers, who last week

revealed debts of £900,000, won £42,500 in progressing to the second round, picking up a further £72,000 for the tie being picked for television.

Financially, the Cup run could not have come at a better time and Jones wishes his side could have had an opportunity to take on County in a potentially money-spinning televised replay at Court Place Farm.

He said: “When we first started on this road away to Whitehawk in September we could never have imagined experiencing this.

“I just wish we could have held on, because it would have been a fantastic achievement to be in the hat for the third round, but it was not meant to be.”

City have not got long to get over the defeat as they host Truro City in the league tomorrow night.

Jones is confident his players will bounce back and can start moving away from the bottom of the table.

He said: “We’ve got to get over it. We’re in a poor position in the league.

“We showed we’ve got more than enough quality about us not to be down there, but we’ll pick the lads up and stick together.”