AFC Fylde boss Dave Challinor admits yesterday’s defeat at Chester answered a few questions about his squad.

Challinor made eight changes for the trip to Chester as his side exited the FA Trophy at the first hurdle and believes his squad needs reinforcements.

Challinor said: “The game told me a lot about our squad and that we need bodies in for the second half of the season.

“We don’t have a transfer window but league clubs do and we will hopefully take advantage of that soon.

“The penalties are by-the-by because anything can happen and the standard was very high but we should have won the game long before that. 

“The first half was lacklustre at best and then we give them a goal after the break. Extra time was very open which suited us down to the ground but again our sloppiness has cost us. 

“In normal circumstances I wouldn’t have made as many changes because it was a competition that we wanted to progress in. 

“But if I had to choose between this cup and next weekend’s league game against Ebbsfleet then it would be Ebbsfleet all day.

“We have games to catch up on in the league and first and foremost we have to secure our status in this division. That comes before anything.  

“I didn’t want to risk anyone, but everyone of the lads that played believes they should be in the first team so it should have been a strong enough team to win the game. 

“Some of them did themselves good and some didn’t.”