LIAM Hogan accepted that Tranmere Rovers had fallen short of expectation this season but believes the players will be better off for the experience of a year in non-league football at Prenton Park.

The Rovers' defender was speaking after Steve Jennings had secured a 1-0 victory over Grimbsy Town – a result that could not prevent Gary Brabin's side from missing out on the playoffs by two points.

Hogan returned to action as a second-half substitute following a lengthy injury layoff and played out a bittersweet afternoon.

He said: "On a personal level it's great to be out there.

"Obviously I had a bit of a setback – two injuries that weren't nice and I missed out a bit.

"To come back and feel the home crowd again it was a nice feeling.

"We won the game, which was a positive, but overall disappointed to have pushed it as close as we have but to have fallen short at the final hurdle.

"Looking round at the lads' faces, they're all gutted but we'll pick ourselves up again and go again next year.

"It's disappointment, but it's an experience for us and we can learn from that now and go into it next year and hopefully be consistent.

"Man for man in our team I can honestly say all the lads have made a great effort.

"There will be a few lads behind me who will say they haven't done what they said they’d come here to do.

"We know it's a tough league to get out of.

"I'm really gutted, but next year we'll go again.

"It's just really important that we learn now from what we've done.

"It's important that we have a good off season now as well."