Lowestoft Town manager Jamie Godbold has hailed his players, expressing pride at their efforts in reaching the FA Cup fourth qualifying round for the first time in 12 years and then bouncing back from disappointment to seal an important Southern League Premier Central Division win.

Reflecting on a "very busy" week, and looking ahead to an even busier schedule, the Blues boss was full of praise for the players' efforts and the backing of The Trawlerboys support.

Lowestoft now face a long journey as they travel to third placed Stratford Town today, before heading out on the road again for a Tuesday night trip to 21st placed Hitchin Town.

Ahead of those "very tough" trips, Godbold reflected on just missing out on a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup in what would have been the first time in 15 years after a fine performance against higher National League opponents in front of 1,166 fans last Saturday.

"I thought we started off particularly well in the first half against Weston-super-Mare," Godbold said.

"I felt we were the better team, we deserved to go in 1-0 up and we were probably unlucky not to go on and extend that lead - overall I was really pleased with the way we played.

"With the injury to Luke Holt young Jack Trowbridge came and we protected him really well.

"But the game changing moment came early in the second half with the goal that we felt was illegal - that changed the whole momentum of the game.

"As I said last week, if we get a bit of luck, we play our best and we perhaps catch them on an off day then anything can happen.

"Well, we did play, we maybe caught them on an off day but we did not get the luck we deserved.

"I was pleased with the performance but it obviously disappointing to go out in the end and just miss out on what could have been a game at Bristol Rovers away.

"Jack was at the ground to warm up Holty, he biked down and I think he even paid to get in the ground - so we will reimburse him that.

"There was a space on the bench with Josh's injury no better, so it was a late call up and change to the teamsheet to include Jack there.

"That was perhaps the only stroke of luck we had on the day - having Jack as a sub keeper on the bench.

"So it is a big well done to Jack for doing so well on his debut in what was such a huge game.

"Looking back at the game they were always looking to keep putting the ball on the keeper and I though we protected Jack really well and he kicked well.

"It was such a blow to take in the end, it was an unfair result and certainly never a 1-3 game.

"Even at 1-2 we were still very much in the game and pushing.

"If we had held onto the lead for a bit longer who knows - but they scored soon after the restart.

"But it was never a free kick that was given and the goal was a foul on the goalkeeper - those little bits of luck did not go our way on the day.

"The timing of the goal gave them a whole half to get onto us.

"So it might have been Bristol Rovers away, we can dream, but I am absolutely proud of the lads.

"We're very pleased with the FA Cup run this year, its been a long time coming to keep winning a number cup games and we held our own against a team flying high in the league above us.

"That's all credit to the lads - we're proud of the boys and proud of all the supporters who turned out and cheered us on as having 1,100+ at the ground was fantastic."

With a spate of injuries, games coming thick and fast and a busy schedule ahead, Blues officials swooped to seal two loan signings - as goalkeeper Danny Cullum joins on loan from Needham Market on a dual registration deal "for the next few games."

Cullum had signed for Needham Market a few months ago following his release from Ipswich Town's academy - where he had most recently played for their U21s, having been with Ipswich from the age of eight until his release at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The Trawlerboys also signed attacking midfielder Fin Whiteley on an initial one month loan from King's Lynn Town.

The teenager previously started out at Norwich City’s academy and played at Fakenham.

Of the new signings, Godbold said: "It has been a busy week - for two days after the FA Cup game it was constantly being on the phone, trying to sort out a replacement for Luke Holt.

"As good as Jack was, it would be unfair to throw him in, so the days that followed was trying to find a goalkeeper and we're grateful to Needham Market for allowing the dual registration of Danny Cullum.

"Danny was on loan at Ipswich Wanderers last year and when we played them away he was outstanding on the night as we lost 2-1.

"We knew about him, but did not know his availability - so we're grateful to Needham Market in allowing us to borrow him for a period of time.

"We are still searching for a longer term signing, and this gives us a bit of time as unfortunately Holty is out for the rest of the season which is huge loss.

"It is a bad injury in that he has ruptured his patella tendon and he had an operation on Wednesday as he now starts the long road to recovery.

"We're gutted to lose Holty - not only as a great goalkeeper, but also him as a character - he is a big personality and vocal in the dressing room.

"It will be season ending, which is so very unfortunate after what happened, and with it being a six to nine month recovery we're unlikely to see him in action again this season as that takes us to pre season.

"We have got something in the pipeline for a longer term replacement goalkeeper, so hopefully that will materialise.

"Danny is helping us out but we're having to look for something longer term.

"The loan signing of attacking midfielder Fin has actually been in the pipeline for a few weeks.

"King's Lynn have been in both national cup competitions and so they wanted to keep him in the squad at a time when we had very few league games in that same period, so now we managed to get that one over the line with the games we've got coming thick and fast.

"He came up through the ranks at Fakenham and he is still a young lad with great potential.

"We felt he would give us some additional attacking threat and first and foremost with the injuries catching up with us and the games coming up it gives us a chance to rest players knowing we have this quality available.

"They were both thrown in the deep end in starting for us on Tuesday. Jake Reed was unavailable and we wanted to see Fin in action to see what he could do and I thought that they both did well on the night.

"Danny was excellent, more-so in that we had not training sessions before the game or the chance to get to know the lads.

"So to get a win on Tuesday night was an excellent result for us.

"The first half saw both defences on top and you could see the efforts of Saturday played a big part in that.

"They were a very direct team but I was pleased with the way we dealt with it for the most part.

"They were a team of giants but we dealt with the threat well.

"In the second half Joe Duffy - who was excellent up front all night, on his own replacing Reedy up front - drove right into the box and earned a penalty which Harvey Sayer as he does converts to put us ahead.

"It was then probably disappointing to concede a goal in the way we did - from a cross into the box that was there for a long, long time without anyone attacking it allowing their centre forward to run at it and after Danny saved the effort they followed up with the rebound.

"Considering the efforts from two days before, and the equalising goal coming in the 80th minute, it might've felt like that was that.

"But it was great to Joao Rangel put one in - I am so pleased for him as he scored his first goal for the club.

"So it was a really pleasing victory, and great to bounce back from Saturday's disappointment."

Looking ahead to the games at third placed Stratford Town this afternoon, and Tuesday night's trip to 21st placed Hitchin Town, Godbold said: "They are two very tough games and the journeys do play a part.

"The last two games have taken a lot out of the lads so it is important to recover and make sure we have everyone as fit as possible as we are a team built on energy.

"Stratford have started the season really well, they are right up there in the league and home games are really important in this league.

"We have been approaching the away games with a slightly different mindset recently and that is important - being tough to beat, being compact and being a bit more conscious that a point away from home in this league can be a good one.

"It is important to stay in the game for as long as possible.

"Both games ahead will be tough challenges and we will need to be at it collectively.

"Tuesday will be much more of the same - we tend to play Hitchin away in midweek in seasons gone by and once again we play them on a Tuesday night.

"They had a very good performance last Tuesday against Leiston and were perhaps unfortunate to just pick up a point after a 95th minute equaliser.

"They are not far off us and it will be a tough game - every game is tough in this league."

Godbold said that Charlie Norman, after his recent injury, is available. Josh Hazell's knee injury "will be a bit longer" as he now requires a scan, and he is likely to miss out this weekend, while Jake Reed is likely to be available on Saturday.