Hares suffer play-off defeat at Rugby Borough ahead of cup finals against Ely City and Deeping Rangers

March Town have suffered United Counties League Premier Division South play-off heartache for a second successive season.

The Hares were beaten 2-0 at Rugby Borough in Sunday's semi-final - a year after losing 4-0 to Racing Club Warwick at the same stage.

Manager Ash Taylor said: "It's a tough one to take. You work hard to get to the play-offs to try to go to the next level.

"The upshot of it is we just haven't delivered today and maybe we're just not ready to go up yet.

"That's just where we're at, that's the reality of it. There's no point fluffing it up in regards to the game.

"We can talk about decisions. They went against us today, in particular the first goal, with it being a clear foul for us and them scoring from that.

"The referee gives that type of free-kick five times after it. That's hard to take because in big games like this, key moments like that can change games.

"We've also had the penalty shout in the first half where Jack Saunders gets a boot to the head and goes down and the referee puts his hand to his mouth and says, no.

"I said to the lads, yes, decisions haven't gone our way today, but we haven't scored.

"You have to put pressure on the opposition by putting the ball in the back of the net. We had some opportunities, but fair play to Rugby, they defended well at times, blocked some efforts and their goalkeeper made some good saves.

"It's frustrating, it hurts. We have to kind of reset and look to when it comes to next season, look to see what we need to try and take this team a little bit further."

The Hares went into the game with the services of Ben Tait and Jack Withers while striker Dan Cotton was away, although Jay Whyatt was available for selection after returning from America.

Rugby went into the interval with a slender lead, thanks to a goal from Will Grocott.

The hosts made sure of their progression with a Gez McGahey header in the second half.

"We had a lack of numbers today again. We had some, some lads that would miss the Sunday game but be all right for the Saturday," said Taylor.

"We were without two of our midfielders and Dotty was away with his missus on holiday, so having Jay back was great for us. I thought he was terrific in there today, he played really well.

"We come here, we play, we try to do what we can do, but I'm not going to take any credit away from Rugby.

"They're an exceptional team, have got a good manager, and they deserved it today because they put the ball in the back of the net.

"It is frustrating and I don't want to be standing here making excuses. With injuries, people going away and the game being on a Sunday and having a final on Tuesday.

"It is what it is, and we just have to deal with it."

The Hares now turn their attentions to two cup finals in the next week.

Tomorrow night, they meet Ely City in the Cambs Invitation Cup final at Cambridge City.

A week later, they take on Deeping Rangers in the Hinchinbrooke Cup Final (May 6), at Yaxley, as they look to regain the trophy which they won last season.

Taylor added: "It's all about looking forward to Tuesday now. It's about trying to change this horrible feeling into a good thing on Tuesday night by trying to win the cup.

"I know Guy (Habbin) well. He's done terrific with Ely this season and credit to him for getting them into the play-offs and getting them into this final, he's done a great job.

"He knows his stuff and they are going to be hurting, the same as us, so it should be a really exciting game on Tuesday and hopefully it'll be a game where we come out on top."

March Town: Gill, Burrows, Brumby, Whyatt, Emmington, Green, Saunders (Oladiran), Foy, Gillies (Moore), Allen (Biggs), Tsaguim.