‘Magical’ was the word Steven Craig used when asked to sum up Wycombe Wanderers’ run to the League Two play-off final.

A visibly emotional Craig was still coming to terms with the fact that Blues had fallen at the final hurdle as he described losing on penalties as a “brutal” way to end the season.

In the build-up to the match the 34-year-old said the team’s performance en route to finishing fourth in the league was beyond his and the rest of the squad’s expectations following the season of struggle which preceded it.

“I said before the game that regardless of what happens it’s been a successful season,” the striker said.

“It’s been magical stuff compared to last year and once you get there you want to get over the final hurdle and we just fell short.

“If that group of players in there show the same grit and determination next season then we won’t be far away.”

A hamstring injury sustained just minutes after the forward’s goal in the play-off semi-final first leg against Plymouth ruled him out of the second leg, and may have influenced Gareth Ainsworth’s decision to start with him on the bench at Wembley.

The Scotsman entered the action after 85 minutes in place of Hogan Ephraim and came close to creating a winning goal in normal time when Aaron Pierre headed his cross goalwards, only to see it tipped over the bar.

Craig admitted that he thought Wanderers had done enough to win the match before Joe Pigott’s late leveller, and revealed that Ainsworth had only positive words for his team in the dressing room afterwards.

“He said that none of us are entitled to be down about what we’ve achieved this year, the way we’ve conducted ourselves over the 46 league games, in the two play-off games and here at Wembley. We should be proud of ourselves and I’m proud of the boys,” said Craig.

“I know we’re beaten finalists today (Saturday) but I still feel that it’s a remarkable achievement.

“For us to be in top three for seven months, to finish fourth in the league and with the way we’ve conducted ourselves over the two legs against Plymouth and today the staff have got to take massive credit for that.”