Liam Smith says it will take time to get over Sittingbourne’s Isthmian South East play-off final defeat.

Smith took the captain’s armband after Bagasan Graham went off injured against Burgess Hill on Friday night.

The defender scored the Brickies’ first penalty - an emphatic strike into the top corner - but the visitors won the shoot-out 3-2 after a 1-1 draw at Woodstock.

It was a second final defeat in three seasons for Smith, who was part of the Hythe side beaten 1-0 by Whitehawk in 2023.

“I absolutely love football so to lose, it’s a killer,” he said.

“It will definitely feel bad for a little while.

“Fair play to Burgess Hill, they were very good and deserved it but when you go to penalties, it’s the flick of a coin.”

Sittingbourne couldn’t recreate their league form as a long season caught up with them.

It reminded Smith of his previous final but the outcome shouldn’t detract from a year to remember.

The Brickies finished runners-up with a record points total of 101 and enjoyed a history-making run to the FA Trophy quarter-finals, beating National League Southend en route.

“I’ve never heard of a play-off final to be a good game, if I’m honest,” said Smith.

“I’ve been in one before and it was probably the worst play-off final I’ve ever seen, so that’s just what happens.

“It’s not about that, it’s about the chance to go up and it normally does come down to one goal or penalties and we were on the wrong end of it.

“I’ve said to the younger boys you’ve just got to be proud of yourselves.

“Take in how much it hurts and remember that for next time because you don’t want that feeling again.

“We’ve had an unbelievable season, 101 points and a great run in the FA Trophy.

“I’m gutted we haven’t got over the line but we’ve got to go again and see what happens next year.”

Brickies boss Ryan Maxwell felt the FA Trophy run ultimately hit their title chances and left them in the play-offs.

But the memories of upsetting a host of higher-league clubs, peaking with that unforgettable injury-time victory at Southend, are worth their weight in gold.

“I’d never swap that - never,” said Smith. “You can’t live with regrets.

“Something like that will never happen again, so to be involved in that was brilliant.

“Obviously I’d like to have done both but it’s one of those things.

“You’re going to be down for a while and take it to heart but you have to learn from it and move on.

“The play-offs make football exciting, especially in the lower leagues.

“I’m just gutted we finished on 101 points and didn’t win the league.

“That’s fair play to Ramsgate because they got more than us.”

Smith joined Sittingbourne from Hythe last summer and has loved playing under Maxwell.

He’s shown his versatility, playing centre-half, right-back and central-midfield, chipping in with vital goals.

“It’s been brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” said Smith.

“It’s been one of my most enjoyable years.

“I’ve played over 50 games and it’s a great club, the fans have been brilliant.

“I’ve never been part of something like this really, so it’s been a great season for myself and all of us.

“We’ve just got to enjoy the good moments we’ve had.

“I’d never go to a club where I didn’t enjoy it or didn’t enjoy the changing room or the manager.

“Maxy’s unbelievable and with the boys, it’s been one of the best changing rooms, similar to Hythe.

“I’ve got a few mates here from Hythe but, honestly, it’s been one of the best changing rooms ever.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re just doing well, you’ve got to enjoy the changing room, the banter, the football, the manager and credit to him - Maxy’s one of the best I’ve played under.

“I’ve only played under three (Steve McKimm at Tonbridge and Steve Watt at Hythe the others) but they’ve all been brilliant.”