TOM Moody described yesterday's disappointing Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy quarter-final defeat against Somerset at Taunton as a 'real kick in the teeth'.

But the County's Director of Cricket was quick to put a positive 'spin' on the situation by urging his Worcestershire players to step up their bid for Frizzell County Championship and Norwich Union League glory.

Moody issued his rallying call after Somerset had pulled off a shock four-wicket win with 15 balls to spare.

Somerset's three previous one-day encounters with skipper Graeme Hick's men this season had all ended in defeat.

Moody said: "The players are disappointed. Obviously they came here full of confidence after having such a good run in one-day cricket and to be beaten like that is a real kick in the teeth.

"The bottom line is we were short in the runs department after such a good start and we didn't bowl and field as well as we could have."

Moody now wants the players to get the grim defeat out of their system and concentrate on getting promotion to Division One in the Championship and winning Division One of the Norwich Union League.

He said: "So far we've had an excellent season. If you'd said at the start of the season that you'd reach the semi-final in one competition, a quarter-final in the other and be topping the Norwich Union League Division One and in contention to win the Championship you'd take it. You'd be thrilled with that.

"But because we have had such a solid start the expectation level is a lot higher, not only from the players but from the public. But that's the way we want it to be.

"We have come a long way in last 12 months and we can't expect it all to happen overnight. These things take time. Players do learn a lot from these types of experiences and when they come back to these positions in the future they are better for it."

Somerset powered to victory with 15 balls to spare thanks to a one-day best 121 by man-of-the-match Keith Parsons.