ECCLESHILL boss Sean Regan has called on his side to learn from the heartache of missing out on automatic promotion – and bounce back in the play-offs.

A frustrating last game of the regular Northern Counties East League season saw them pipped to the Division One runners-up spot by Yorkshire Amateur, who beat them 4-2 in a winner-takes-all encounter in front of 376 spectators at the Mitton Group Stadium.

While the result was disappointing, the Eagles boss remains proud of his side's accomplishment as they prepare for a semi-final at home to fifth-placed Shirebrook Town on Wednesday, May 9.

Regan said: "I think it's been an outstanding season. What we have to do is put that game to one side, reflect on it and learn from it. We will learn and the players need to learn from occasions like that which are ever so big.

"We played some good football at points, but we have got to switch on and be mentally ready for every minute of every game and stay focused."

Regan, whose side ended fourth after Grimsby Borough overtook them on goal difference, still has belief that his side can gain promotion but admits they must be mentally stronger.

He said: "I am confident against anybody to be fair. I was confident against Yorkshire but again, it all depends on the players and how they mentally prepare themselves for such a big game.

"If they learn from nights like Monday, because everyone is learning all the time, then we will do well.

"On an individual level, the players have to prepare themselves for that test, not me and Des (Hamilton), but them.

"We will help and support them where we need, but they have to do that job on the pitch and the occasion hasn't got to get to them, so they have to be stronger mentally to be able to deal with that."

* Interview by Matthew Wilkinson