A dejected Russ Wilcox sounded beaten as his Gainsborough Trinity side lost out 2-1 at home to Prescot Cables as they dropped out of the Northern Premier League play-offs.
A late own goal wasn’t enough for Trinity as a goal from Thomas Scully and a prior own goal from Trinity defender George Hornshaw saw the hosts fall to defeat.
Wilcox was surprised his team managed to get back into the match, with a manic last ten minutes for both sides.
He said: “We managed to get ourselves back in the game, don’t know how because we weren’t good enough today.
“I’m not going to dress it up. It would’ve been a good point with an opportunity to win it as well; you go one 1-1 and think don’t lose the game now – make sure to come away with something.
“Goals were crazy. It’s poor from us, it’s hugely disappointing.”
The first half of the game was one that remained goalless.
Both sides attempted to create chances, but neither side could convert or properly challenge either goalkeeper.
Wilcox believes that even though some things didn’t go in his teams’ favour, ultimately, they just weren’t at the races as his team continued to commit everything.
He said: “The bottom line is today we weren’t good enough.
“I don’t know what’s happened to us in the past month, its so difficult to put your finger on where we’re at.
“The lads gave everything physically, but the quality just wasn’t there today.”
Following the defeat, and other results for the teams around them in the fight for the last play-off place, Trinity now slip down into seventh place.
This means that it will now be a three-horse race going into the last day of the season next weekend.
The Holy Blues manager believes it’s now all about actions for Trinity to secure the fifth place finish they so desperately want.
Wilcox said: “Sometimes, you can rant and rave, scream and shout, sometimes you can be calm, but it’s all about actions.
“It’s all about the lads having the right mentality and mindset which we’ve had all season.
“I’m not going to beat the players up today, it’s so so disappointing, but they’ve been superb this season.”
Gainsborough will travel to Hyde United on the final day of the season looking to get a much needed result to secure a playoff place.
If they are able to secure the playoffs, they will play an away tie with the team that finish in second place – either Hebburn, Hednesford or FC United of Manchester.
This game will be played on Tuesday, March 28.