Manager Micky Mellon has apologised for his part in Oldham Athletic exiting the FA Trophy at the hands of Hendon - a team two non-league tiers below them.

The Southern League Premier Division South side took the lead through captain Joe White in the 67th minute, and it needed a triple substitution including newest signing Tom Conlon and top scorer James Norwood to get Latics back in the game.

Norwood equalised from the penalty spot early in the six minutes of stoppage time and the tie looked to be going to a shoot-out again, as in the previous round.

But Niko Muir popped up in the last minute of stoppage time to snatch a last-gasp win for the Londoners.

Mellon had used the competition to give fringe players an opportunity to force their way into his thinking, particularly given the run of five games in a fortnight that they embarked on today.

But the Latics boss was left disappointed and frustrated by the outcome of that approach.

"First and foremost we know it was nowhere near good enough, and I take responsibility for that as well, before people think I'm deflecting," said Mellon.

"We gave people the opportunity today to have a go, because I think it was the right thing to do. We've got a lot of games coming up.

"I back the players and I want to work hard with them to try to make them consistent and make them better.

"But we never played well enough, or we weren't good enough on the day to do enough.

"There would be a whole host of things that I would say we did poorly that we would be disappointed with. And I think we have to say every credit to Hendon first and foremost.

But from our point of view I was disappointed for the players who had that opportunity to go and perform."

Mellon added: "We had to use the squad today and there was an opportunity for a lot of people to help us along, because we've got Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday coming up.

"I'd have to apologise, I think, and it's the first time I've had to do that for a long time in my career, but I'd have to apologise on behalf of us as a management staff and a playing staff because with all due respect to Hendon who came here and won and deservedly so, I think we all know that Oldham should be doing better. We have to be doing better than that.

"But when I came here I always knew it was a big job, I never get carried away."

Latics entered the play-off positions for the first time this season with last weekend's win at Dorking, which stretched their run of away wins to five, and return to league action on Tuesday with the re-arranged visit of Boreham Wood (kick-off 7.45pm), so Mellon is keen to put their FA Trophy disappointment behind them quickly.

"Our focus is absolutely on the league, and I'm not just saying that to try to bat off the cup competition - we wanted to do well and use the squad in order to try to do that," Mellon continued.

"But our absolute focus is on the league and we have the opportunity to go out on Tuesday and go and deal with that on Tuesday and where we'll really see our success is performing well and getting results in the league.

"We all just have to leave it where it is now and get on with the league, which is the be all and end all."