Jimmy Quinn told the media afterwards that he felt his side had 'frozen' on the big day and the better team had deservedly won.
"The better team won the game," he admitted. "We gave a bad goal away, which gave them something to hold on to, and goals change the course of games.
"They dug in and defended well after that, and apart from a half-chance from Mark Peters and a shot from Magno Vieira we didn't do enough to score a goal."
Quinn added, "We're miles better than that, though. I'm very proud of them, we've had a great season, but we were miles off it today. I think the same thing happened to Exeter last year, they froze and lost the game, but that experience will hold us in good stead. We've just got to come back next season stronger than we did this season.
"We finished second but it's disappointing to finish like we did today, underperforming. We've got a lot of experience in our team and we should have played a lot better, but I've got nothing but praise for our players who have been fighting hard all season, it's just disappointing to finish the season this way."
Reflecting on United's chances to equalise Rob Edwards' 23rd minute header, Quinn commented, "I thought Mark Peters had an excellent game considering he's about 96! He didn't quite get enough on it, it was a half-chance and if he'd caught it a bit better it might have gone in, and Mags (Magno Vieira) had a shot that went just a couple of feet past the post, but it's all ifs and buts.
"We didn't produce enough quality in the final third to get a goal to get back into the game. If we'd have scored a goal when they were on their heels I think we'd have stood a chance, but we never played anywhere near the way we can and the players know that; I don't need to tell them that, but I've reminded them about the season we've had."
The amber army were in great voice before the game and did their best to lift the team throughout the game, and the U's boss added, "They were fantastic and I'm disappointed for them. They've been an extra man all season and we owe them one after going out to underperform like we did.
"But I'll do my work in the summer and hopefully bring in a bit of extra firepower, a couple of players who are going to get 15-20 goals for us, and we won't be far away next year."
Quinn also feels that Exeter entered the game all the stronger for the experience of losing to Morecambe in last year's final, and explained, "When you suffer the disappointment we've just suffered it makes you even more determined next time around, as you could see.
"It wasn't a classic game by any means but you could see they were used to the experience and they were a bit quicker to the ball at times, and I have to say we were a bit nervous. But if we end up back here next year that will stand us in good stead."
Quinn concluded, "There's a lot of hard work and planning to be done in the summer. We have the nucleus of a good squad and we just need that bit of extra quality and I don't think we're too far away."
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