Army makes determined

needed and I think in the second half it was there to see that we’d run out of steam.

“Even then if we had managed to get ahead we could have held out but it looked like a game that was going to be won by one goal and unfortunately it was Hamilton who got it.

“It’s left us all feeling very flat, I don’t know the right word for it but it’s a deflated feeling.

“But I couldn’t have asked for any more from my players. They have given everything, I can never fault their effort or their desire.”

Even going into the play-off campaign, Ray was working on his plans for next term and James Keatings and Billy King have already been signed up.

Other new faces will be added and this week the manager will sit down with his out of contract players and tell them who is being offered deals for next season.

“I’ll sit down with the chairman and we’ll take it from there. We want to improve the squad, that is a must. I’ve used the same team for the last eight games and it was a game too far.

“We will take stock and not make any rash decisions. We need to use this as a motivation and learning so we are in a position to win the title next season.

“We will put this experience to good use. We now know we can rely on some players to come through this experience and get out of this league next season.”

Hamilton in the play-off final second leg at the SuperSeal Stadium but were unable to cheer their side to victory.