BRIAN Pritchard promised his side will emerge stronger after losing Tuesday’s play-offs semi final despite having regrets about mistakes made against FC United of Manchester.

Witton Albion, unbeaten in three previous meetings with the Reds this season, lost 3-1 after defensive mistakes allowed the home team to take the initiative.

After trailing 2-0 at the interval, Josh Hancock’s penalty might have been a catalyst for a comeback before Dean Stott converted from the spot for FC United at the other end to settle the outcome.

“It’s hard to take,” said Pritchard.

“I know we’ve had a great season, but that won’t make us feel any better for a little while because everything is magnified when a game has so much at stake.

“We gave ourselves a mountain climb, and couldn’t quite get there even though we had them rocking in the second half.

“I thought we might go on to get a second goal [after Hancock’s penalty], which would have asked them a serious question.

“We caused them problems from set pieces, but didn’t respond to the quality of cross sent into the box by Josh [Hancock]. That was disappointing.”

Pritchard admitted that FC United’s start to the contest, during which Matthew Wolfenden drilled in from distance after goalkeeper Matt Cooper had fluffed a kick, had taken some of his players by surprise.

Astley Mulholland’s goal made their mission twice as difficult.

The Witton boss said: “The noise from the crowd was incredible, and their intensity in the opening exchanges was better than ours. They were clinical too, taking their chances.

“We gifted them the first goal, even though the quality of the strike was fantastic.

“Matt [Cooper] is gutted about it, he’s mortified. When you’re the last line of defence like he is, then a mistake is more likely be punished ruthlessly.

“I think the second goal was offside, which was missed by the linesman. That said, we’ve been opened up by a simple pass which is poor from a defensive point of view.”

He told the Guardian that reaching the play-offs on Witton’s return to the Northern Premier League’s top flight, after three years away, would act as a spur.

His challenge next season though will be a different one.

He said: “My task now is to find a way of closing the 13-point gap between Witton Albion and first place in the table. That work will start straight away.

“This group of players is not used to losing; most of them have won a title or been promoted at least once in their career.

“That’s unusual for a team at this level, but this is the first time they’ll have experienced a failure. And by that, I mean not going up when they’ve got themselves in a position to.

“Over the course of the season, and after coming up to the Premier Division, the players have learned an awful lot. They’ve put themselves – and the club – back in the spotlight and that’s something we’re all proud of.”