Michael Kennedy says Darvel need to dust themselves down and go again after missing out on promotion to the Lowland League.
Boss Kennedy watched his side lose 2-0 to Tranent at Recreation Park in Saturday's decider.
‘Vale defeated South of Scotland League top guns St Cuthbert Wanderers 3-1 last Wednesday night to set up a winner-takes-all promotion play-off with the East of Scotland League champions.
However, it wasn’t to be for ambitious Darvel who will need to attempt to win the West of Scotland League Premier Division for a second time if they are to attempt to reach the fifth tier.
Deflated gaffer Kennedy admits his team weren’t good enough on the day as goals from Wayne McIntosh and Jamie Docherty were enough to see Tranent to victory.
He told the Kilmarnock Standard: “I don’t think it was a particularly great game to be honest.
“We maybe had a 15 to 20-minute spell where we could have equalised but I just don’t think we played well enough.
“I was disappointed with the performance, but it’s hard to be hard on the boys, it has been such a long, demanding season.
“The boys were tired, dead on their feet, but you’ve got to be better – and the reality is we fell short.
“I have been saying for weeks that Tranent are a really good side; that they would compete at the top end of our league.”
But Kennedy admits he will remain upbeat after winning the West Premier at the first time of asking.
And Darvel will bid to retain their crown and bid to avenge their play-off defeat next term.
“Sometimes you need to remember how far you’ve come,” said Kennedy. “The club and the players have been on a great journey.
“We just need to get ready for next year and reset, that’s all we can do.
“It’s not the first time I’ve lost a game of football or faced a bit of adversity. We will dust ourselves down and come back in the summer.
“If you’d have said to us we are going to win our league the first year being in it, we’d have taken it.
“Of course, there is a wider plan we have, but this game shows us we have to be better.
“Whatever I am in I want to win, I want to go and win the league again.
“It will be a massive challenge, the teams around us will be strengthening, it’s one of the most difficult leagues in the country.
“But there is nothing for it apart from regrouping, we will see how much fire and hunger is in the bellies when we go again.”
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