Wanganui Athletic's Logan Hughes takes possession against North End at Wembley Park on Saturday. Photo/ Lewis Gardner
Sometimes there is no explaining defeat other than how it feels.
Two words from coach Jason King summed up GJ Gardner Wanganui Athletic's injury time loss to North End at Wembley Park on Saturday.
"It hurts."
What had become a battle for second place in Lotto Federation League over two matches against the Palmerston North club is now over with North End sealing the runners-up tag with a game to spare.
Athletic needed to beat North End on Saturday and again away this coming weekend to finish second place behind winners Palmerston North Marist, but the loss now drags them into a battle for third.
The home side led the match twice though, and with Josh Smith scoring his third consecutive brace and keeper Matthew Calvert making a series of stunning saves it could have been so different.
"We could've had it in spades, we really could've had it in spades," King said.
"We had plenty of opportunities; Opportunities missed, opportunities not given. At the end of the day it's what the score sheet says and yeah ... it hurts."
Athletic now have to find some way to pick themselves up for the return trip to North End on Saturday where they need a win to guarantee third.
"It's going to be a tough battle for us. Could as easily finish fourth now as third but we've just got to dig deep."
All the early play favoured Athletic at Wembley, with the visitor's forced to scramble away a series of early corners until the pressure became too much with the in-form Smith opening the scoring in the 10th minute, neatly tucking one past North End keeper Matthew Borren.
The visitors were working with much less time on the ball but made good use of it when they had it.
Nathan Cooksley shook the crossbar early on and just nine minutes after Athletic's opener found himself one-on-one with Calvert.
His shot was blocked but some messy Athletic defending failed to clear the ball, allowing Brynn Cleaver to slide the ball into goal to level the score.
Athletic's defensive work sharpened over the next 20 minutes as they kept several North End chances out.
Peter Czerwonka screamed across the park to shut down a free running Cleaver before he could get a shot away and then Calvert tracked an awkward shot from Elijah Smith, which took a late deflection and looked to be goal-bound, before being tipped over the bar by the keeper.
That defence allowed Athletic to regain the lead in the 41st minute when Smith notched his sixth goal in three games.
Another full stretch save from Calvert, this time on the ground, stopped what looked like a sure goal from Cam Dearlove and gave the home side the 2-1 advantage at the break.
The tide turned in the second half with North End applying good pressure and Athletic holding firm.
But only until the 77th minute, when Dearlove found the back on the net to level the scores.
A draw would have also spelt the end of Athletic's tilt at second spot and they needed scoring chances, which they got.
Ryan Holden brilliantly connected with an overhead kick from a Quinn Mailman cross, but it drifted wide.
Holden followed with a another shot on target, which Borren comfortably collected and Athletic had a free kick on the edge of the area but there was no way through.
Three minutes into injury time, William Hodge dealt the cruellest of blows to Athletic and snatched the win for North End.
"You can tell there's a lot of disappointed and frustrated lads there - absolutely frustrated," King said.
"It's all borne from the disappointment of not achieving what we know we could achieve.
"Definitely the first 20-30 minutes was probably some of the best football we've played.
"We really controlled the game, we looked like we were well on top of them but we let them back in the game.
"There were lots and lots close chances but unfortunately you don't get goals for close chances. The only ones that count are the ones that nestle in the back of the net."
King felt his side had countered North End's physical play well enough.
"Where we like to play football, they like to try and break it up and spoil it from there," he said.
"It's quite easy to be dragged down to those situations and lose focus of the game which I think we did pretty well, we just couldn't turn it into the right stuff."
Like last year, Athletic's final few results have been below what they're capable of.
"The performance out there as a lot better than the performances at the end of last season. We were very, very unlucky."
King said getting his side up for Saturday's final game, a rain delayed catch up trip to face North End, will be a mental challenge.
"It becomes a big task. That'll be the challenge over the next week to get that lads ready and that's what we've got to focus on now."
In other matches, Hokowhitu FC beat Massey 1-0 to leapfrog them into third and draw level with Athletic on 19 points.
Athletic's superior goal difference means a win next week guarantees third, although a loss will see either Hokowhitu or Massey get up with a win in their match.
Marist beat New Plymouth Rangers 4-2 in Palmerston North to finish their seasons.