"IT MIGHT have been their day yesterday, but it will soon be our time to sing loud and proud that we are Grimsby Town."
Those were the defiant words of Grimsby Town's joint boss Rob Scott after the Mariners' heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat in the FA Trophy final at Wembley yesterday.
Scott and Hurst's side lost 4-1 in the shoot-out after 90 minutes and extra-time could not separate the Blue Square Bet Premier rivals.
Andy Cook had put the Mariners ahead in the 71st-minute before the Dragons equalised from the spot eight minutes from time to take the game to extra-time and ultimately penalties.
And after dusting himself down from the disappointment of losing in the shoot-out, Scott spoke of his pride for his players, adding that his side's time is still to come.
"It goes without saying but, not just myself, Paul and the players, everyone connected with the club is massively disappointed," he said.
"It's never a nice way to lose. It has to be decided somehow and, unfortunately, yesterday, we were on the wrong side of it.
"I think over the course of the playing time, Wrexham were the better team on the day. "Every single player and manager worth their salt wants to win every game of football. When we started this competition, we sat down and said, we're in it, so we want to win this. "Ultimately we haven't. But what we have done, with a very young group of players – that have been together 18-months tops – is experienced something that a lot of players throughout their careers will have never experienced. "It hasn't worked out how we would have all liked but I feel, and I'm sure the rest of the players will agree that it makes you stronger. We'll draw solace from it and be determined never to have that bitter taste in our mouths after another game again." Scott continued: "There aren't any other negatives to come out of it. Yes we were beaten, but let's not dwell on it. We've lost a game on penalties and there's no finger pointing or chastising. For the lads that stepped up to take a penalty, 'fair play to you for putting yourselves forward'. "The positives are that we live to fight another day. We're still in with a chance of promotion and that is what we're determined to get. "Yesterday was for the fans and players. Our fans have been through some really tough times recently. It was a great day out for the fans and yes it would have been better if we'd have won but we're getting the club back to where we all want it to. "We hope they stick with us because they've got a group of players who are proud to wear the badge of Grimsby Town and put in their all for the club. "Yes it was Wrexham's day, but it will soon be our time to sing loud and proud that we are Grimsby Town."Don't miss our 16-page pull-out in today's Telegraph which is packed full of pictures and reaction.
In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 3
In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 2
In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Wrexham - Match Gallery 1
In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans in Wembley Stadium
In Pictures: Grimsby Town fans outside Wembley
"I think over the course of the playing time, Wrexham were the better team on the day. "Every single player and manager worth their salt wants to win every game of football. When we started this competition, we sat down and said, we're in it, so we want to win this. "Ultimately we haven't. But what we have done, with a very young group of players – that have been together 18-months tops – is experienced something that a lot of players throughout their careers will have never experienced. "It hasn't worked out how we would have all liked but I feel, and I'm sure the rest of the players will agree that it makes you stronger. We'll draw solace from it and be determined never to have that bitter taste in our mouths after another game again." Scott continued: "There aren't any other negatives to come out of it. Yes we were beaten, but let's not dwell on it. We've lost a game on penalties and there's no finger pointing or chastising. For the lads that stepped up to take a penalty, 'fair play to you for putting yourselves forward'. "The positives are that we live to fight another day. We're still in with a chance of promotion and that is what we're determined to get. "Yesterday was for the fans and players. Our fans have been through some really tough times recently. It was a great day out for the fans and yes it would have been better if we'd have won but we're getting the club back to where we all want it to. "We hope they stick with us because they've got a group of players who are proud to wear the badge of Grimsby Town and put in their all for the club. "Yes it was Wrexham's day, but it will soon be our time to sing loud and proud that we are Grimsby Town."Don't miss our 16-page pull-out in today's Telegraph which is packed full of pictures and reaction.
