The Bucks were held 1-1 by lower-league Cleethorpes Town; however, they held their nerve better in a penalty shootout to move past the Lincolnshire side 5-4 in a sudden-death conclusion. Wilkin was pleased with the outcome but far from satisfied with how his side achieved it. “Obviously, going to penalties, we’ve made really hard work of it today,” he said.
“(I’m) delighted to be in the hat for the next round, and commiserations to Cleethorpes, who have come here and had a right go and asked questions of us, there’s no doubt about that. “I do think on a lot of occasions we bring about our own demise and our own issues, and the level of performance, as I said to the lads, from certain individuals, again, is not at the level that we need it at and that it is my responsibility.” The Bucks had to dig deep after starting well but fading.
Dior Angus got them moving with his fourth goal of the season, but substitute Adam Haw levelled after half-time from a free-kick. From that point onwards, the Bucks had to scrap. Both they and Cleethorpes lacked the composure to finish the other off, with missed chances at both ends, something Wilkin acknowledged: “I’m delighted that we’ve found a way to get through people had the courage to step up and get us through on a penalty kick situation, but I would expect the players to be able to come through that game at home in a more comfortable fashion.
“We’re comfortable in the first half, and score a good goal, but then m.