Lowestoft Town manager Jamie Godbold admitted his staff and players were feeling "pretty low" after they suffered late heartache in the push for promotion.

After finishing third in the Pitching In Isthmian League North division, Tuesday's eagerly awaited play-off semi final tie at the Fosters Solicitors Community Stadium against fourth placed Heybridge Swifts ended in a 0-2 defeat.

The Trawlerboys had dominated possession and created good chances in a goalless first half, but the visitors hit them on the break after the interval with two late goals seeing them triumph.

Godbold said: "We are still feeling pretty low, and I think after such a terrific season there is a sense we've let people down.

"It is definitely disappointing we could not go one step further and get into the final, so the feelings are pretty raw emotionally.

"I am starting to get my head around it, and the focus is on next season, but this is still a period of reflection of our performances over the course of this season.

"For as good as we have been, and how well we have done, you want to strive to do more and even better.

"I guess the goal at the start of the season would be to bounce back straight away and get promoted - we've not managed to achieve that and the period now is to look at why.

"Hashtag and Sudbury have had unbelievable seasons and the challenge now for us for next season is to make sure we are up there on top."

Reflecting on the play-off semi final defeat, Godbold added: "We did not get the goal our dominance deserved in the first half and that probably gave them some momentum having weathered the storm.

"It was tough to take, as I felt we were the better side - particularly in the first half."