Poor April costly as Gainsborough Trinity miss out on play-offs
Despite missing out on the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs, boss Russ Wilcox was pleased with most of an excellent campaign that just fell short in the end.
Trinity looked nailed on for the play-offs but finished up four points shy after an April that saw them lose four of the five fixtures.
Hyde's final day 3-1 win over the Holy Blues on Saturday was a disappointing sting in the tail, though Trinity also needed other results to go for them elsewhere – and they didn't.
Wilcox said: “The only positive from Saturday's defeat was that the other teams won, and we haven't blown it big time, where we have lost and they've lost.
“It was always going to be a tall order, but the bigger picture is, it's a seventh placed finish.
“We have had a bumpy April, but the eight months before that were superb.
“People will be disappointed. And I get that - we're disappointed. You don't get many opportunities (to get promoted) like that in the game.
“We haven't managed to get in the play-offs, but we've had some incredible highs, with the cup runs and challenging right up to the final day.
“For me now personally, it's looking forward to what we can keep? What are we going to lose? We could lose players like we have done this year.
“This year we've had to do without Will Lancaster for three quarters of the season - and Dec Howe, both who will be National League players next season.”
He continued: “Recruitment just gets harder, but I take a bit of pride in playing a small part in their journeys.
“That's kind of where we are at the moment, developing players and moving them on.
“With Fylde getting promoted, that should be some more money coming in. And that will help us with planning for next season.
“I think everybody needs a break. That showed out there at times on Saturday.
“We didn't deserve to get anything out of the Hyde game, with our first half peformance.
“But look at our second half and the chances we created. If anything, they were just more clinical than us on the day.
“We look now at what we lose, keep and bring in, and that will dictate what we can do next season.
“The support has been brilliant again this season - and the hunger is there to go again.”
Underdogs, Hebburn Town won the league, two points more than Hednesford, who could only draw on the final day.
Stockton secured the final play-off place after a 2-1 win away at Warrington Rylands.
ylands, alongside FC United, make up the play-off quartet.
Meanwhile, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Morpeth Town and Prescot Cables were all relegated, the latter two on the final day of the season, despite winning their final games.