Proud Cray Valley manager Steve McKimm was still a class act after their heartbreaking defeat on Wednesday.

The Millers were just seconds away from Monday’s Isthmian Premier play-off final before conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.

But they fought to the very end and bowed out 4-3 after extra-time, despite playing the final 50 minutes of an enthralling contest with 10 men.

“You've got to take the rough with the smooth,” said a gracious McKimm.

“I felt we were comfortable and in control at 2-0, we'd done everything in the game that we wanted to do, and nullified their threats.

“They had a couple of scary moments, but we ended up scoring two good set-pieces.

“I can't comment here until I watch it back, we have a player sent off and they get a penalty. But the 10 men were fantastic, and they put a lot of pressure on.

“We rode our luck on a couple of occasions, but then it was 96th minute, they get the free-kick, it hits someone and skids up over the keeper, and nestles in, like in slow motion.

“I’m disappointed and gutted. No one likes to lose football matches, and a game of this magnitude, it does hurt you.

“It hurts players, I'd say more, because they're the ones that put their bodies on the line and tackle and head and run.

“It's horrible. But can I be downbeat? No, of course I can't. I've stopped doing that. I've stopped beating myself up.

“When I'm wrong, I admit it. When I'm right, I don't take the plaudits. It's down to the players.”

McKimm admitted the red card for Crossley Lema and the subsequent penalty was the turning point in the game.

Cray were in control at 2-0 up midway through the second half when Lema appeared to strike out at Callum Jones off the ball. The incident was spotted by the assistant referee.

“Yes, 100 per cent (it changed the game),” said McKimm. “I'm not going to accuse anybody until I see it, because I might be just saying something for nothing.

“So I'll watch it, and then I'll talk to the individual about it, Crossley, and if it's a deserved sending off, then he will get what I feel and the comments that I believe.

“If it wasn't a sending off, then I will think we were hard done by.

“But good luck to Dartford and Ady Pennock. I’ve got a lot of time for him, been mates with him for years, got good staff with him.

“We've come to their place with 2,000 fans here, and I would have said for 65 minutes we were the better side. I fully believe that.

“What I don't do, and you've known me long enough, I don't give my team credit unless they really deserve it, because it comes back to bite you on the backside.

“But for 60-65 minutes, we were outstanding in terms of with the ball, without the ball, dealt with everything they threw at us, because their threats are set-pieces as well. But it's football, and the penalty changes the game.

“But that's why we love football, because it changes things, doesn't it, in an instant.”

McKimm stayed out to watch Dartford celebrate as their fans raced across the pitch.

He’ll only use that memory as motivation for next season.

“I’m extremely proud of what was produced by my players, playing 50 minutes with 10 men and getting back into the game after being 4-2 down,” added McKimm.

Read more: Dartford 4-3 Cray Valley aet match report

“It just shows the determination and the players are a credit to this football club, and they've got to go home with their heads held high.

“It's going to hurt them, I’ve told them it's going to hurt. I watched Dartford celebrating with their fans, because things like that inspire you to come back better, bigger and stronger.

“All the players were in there, and I was watching it. That's fuelled my fire to come back and be better, and the owners and the chairman and everybody at Cray Valley want us to do better next year.”