GRIMSBY Town will be able to draw on their play-offs experience when they embark on another promotion push next season.
That's the view of joint boss Paul Hurst, who endured similar disappointment – and subsequent joy – as a player.
The full-back was part of the Rotherham United squad which lost a Division Three play-off semi-final on penalties to Leyton Orient in 1999.
Undeterred, the Millers stormed to automatic promotion the following season, and Hurst wants the Mariners to follow suit.
"Our defeat doesn't make me more determined – I wanted to get promoted anyway," he said.
"It's an experience that we might be able to draw on down the line.
"I had a similar situation as a player. I was involved at a club where we just missed out on the play-offs, then got in the play-offs and lost, and the following season we won promotion.
"I would love to be able to say that I'd mirrored that as a manager.
"I missed a penalty in the play-offs and, although it wasn't the decisive one, that's as low as I've felt as a player.
"Sunday was another hard one to take, but there can only be one winner on the day."
The co-manager added: "Both Newport and Wrexham have got to go again now, and again someone will be bitterly disappointed on Sunday.
"We have come up short because we haven't got promoted, but it's an extremely difficult league to get out of it with that one automatic promotion place.
"As the saying goes 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' and we have to dust ourselves off and go again."
