Gaz, look back at Altrinchams FA Cup record. You don't have to be in the same league as a team to have a chance of beating them, but you do need a winning mentality.
I'm afraid what we have done in the FA Cup and the Trophy in the 70s and 80s has no relevance to what we should be expecting now. The number of non-league giant killings in the cup appears to have dropped off (and if someone can correct me on that then fair enough) and the FA Trophy's prestige in status in recent years has collapsed. Look at some of the attendances and sides knocked out yesterday.
I didn't go yesterday so I cannot comment on the performance but when I heard we'd lost I was gutted. Does anyone think losing like that wouldn't hurt? The £4000 would have been great, as would the £5000 if we'd beaten Welling. However, I cannot help but think that a Trophy run would have been a double edged sword. There is little doubt in my mind that we will tire between now and May, and another 4 or 5 Trophy games would not have helped in any way. Use Tamworth as a yardstick, I reckon their cup runs have affected their league form this season and last. And if people think this is accepting defeat, its actually trying to stay positive and look on the bright side, rather than dwell on negativity.
As for rather challenging in Conference North as opposed to struggling in the Conference. Give me the latter any day, there's no guarantee that we'll challenge in Conference North. What was our average position in the UniBond?
I'll take Conference status and higher profile games every week, rather than a 678 average and a run in a declining competition. If that alienates people because it goes against our "traditions" then so be it. The game has changed and so has our club.