DOWNHEARTED Steve Claridge reckons Hereford have enough star quality to be crowned champions of the FA Vase.

His Salisbury charges came up short over both semi-final legs, overall losing 3-1 on aggregate to the Bulls.

The tournament favourites are now 1/3, according to odds by bookmakers' BetVictor, to lift the trophy at Wembley on May 22 where they face Morpeth.

"We are a reactive side, not proactive, and that was the difference," Whites' chief reflected.

"They've got a bit more experience and quality and it shows.

"They are not a step five side and the players they've got are from a higher level.

"They've got the experience and the ability and there's absolutely no reason why they won't go and win it. And on a stage like Wembley they should be able to showcase the three or four players who really can play."

"We probably didn't have the requisite quality that they did going forward.

"If you are talking about our back four or midfield they are good as Hereford's but we haven't got the people who can open the door like they have and win you games."

"The front three are certainly not Wessex League level or Midland Premier League level, they can hurt you - we knew that.

"We knew that if the game did get stretched we'd be taking chances and they would get chances."

Mustapha Bundu's header at Edgar Street was the difference heading into the second leg at the Ray Mac which Steve Walker cancelled out 17 minutes in.

And in an electric opening 40 minutes for Whites they could have extended their lead through Sam Wilson and Brandon Mundy.

But a deflected cross moments before the break allowed Mike Symons to tap home the leveller to restore their advantage.

And with Peter Beadle's men in the ascendancy, missing a penalty and having numerous chances to kill the game, substitute Joe Tumelty wrapped up the tie 2-1 in the 78th minute.

"It was huge disappointment to get ourselves in a winning position and be the better side in the first half," he added.

"We live and learn and that's the first time we've played real quality like that and one or two came up short.

"If we had gone in at 1-0, with a lead that we deserved, we wouldn't have had to chase the game."

"We had an injury and then you have to change it just when you are going to make changes and all of sudden that is scuppered because someone has pulled their hamstring and have to come off.

And the one or two players that have gone missing have to stay on because we cannot get them off because we haven't got the players to replace them."