Anthony Riviere has enjoyed the highs and lows of FA Cup football with Sutton United, and Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers probably comes somewhere in the middle.

The midfielder was part of the United side that reached the second round of the competition two seasons ago, but he also featured in the first qualifying round exit last term.

This time round, United would fall at the first round proper stage – the target at the start of the season – against a side pushing for promotion to the Football League.

Charlie Clough, right, had headed United into the lead inside 10 minutes, but thereafter, and despite having a lot of possession, United were given a lesson by their hosts in clinical attacking.

Riviere said: “We started well, got the goal, and should have held on to it for longer than we did – if we’d gone in at half-time drawing 1-1 you never know.

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One eye on the cup: Anthony Riviere in action on Saturday at Kidderminster Harriers                               Pictures: Paul Loughlin

“We like to play a possession game. We like to keep hold of the ball and if we have it, then obviously the opposition don’t.

“It’s like a defensive mechanism. But you could see their quality – they could pick off holes when we gave the ball away.”

He added: “But we’ve done well to get here in the first place. It was about being able to enjoy it and show the football we can play and we gave a good account of ourselves.”

United returned to action in the Skrill South on Tuesday night, with a 2-2 draw at Bath City.

Paul Doswell’s men had opened a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Mitchell Nelson and Jamie Slabber.

However, the hosts fought back and only a Tom Lovelock penalty save in the dying moments ensured a share of the spoils.

Despite the set-back, United remain in the play-off places with confidence high.

Riviere said: “We are very capable of winning promotion this year.

“We have a good team with a good team spirit, we dig in together, we’re confident.

“We have had some good additions over the summer, Dos tries to better the team each and every season, and he has done that again.”

Sutton United host Havant & Waterlooville this weekend in the FA Trophy.

They will be without Tuesday night’s scorer Nelson who begins his three-match ban for his sending off against Eastleigh.