United's injured number 1 Danny Potter and emergency stand-in Adam Bartlett spoke after Sunday's heartbreaking Play-off Final defeat.

Potter, who injured his knee in training on Friday and will undergo further assessment for possible ligament damage, revealed that he was still hopeful of playing in the final until 10am on match day.

"I was training on Friday as normal, then the ball fell to Chrissy Holroyd ten yards out and I went to close him down and the leg just buckled under me" he explained. "After ten minutes I thought it felt ok and went back in but Greg (Reid, physio) immediately pulled me out and ordered me to rest and protect it and have it assessed.

"He said we'd give it a go on Saturday in training, which we did, but in training this morning (Sunday) it just ballooned up. So until 10 o'clock this morning I was ready to play, but there's damage to the cartilage and a danger that I've damaged my cruciate ligament.

"It was a decision between myself The Gaffer and Greg, but there was no way that I could have gone out there and done the team justice or myself and we thought it was best for Adam to come in."

Potter spoke highly of 23-year-old Bartlett, who joined on an emergency loan from Kidderminster Harriers and was collected from the England C training camp to join up with the U's: "He's been outstanding - his handling was superb and there was nothing he could have done with the goals.

"It shows what kind of man he is by the way he has come off the pitch absolutely devastated and said sorry for letting us down. It was 2-0 and he has really had nothing to do, no chance with either goal, the lads have supported him since he's been with us and we all wish him all the best for the future."

Reflecting on the match, Danny added, "The first half we were the better team; for the first 20-25 minutes we dominated but they started to come into it in the second half and the referee has done us. I thought Bolly won the ball but at the worst it was a free kick, definitely not a second yellow card.

"He's an honest pro; he's gone in and there was no intent, but the sending-off changed the game and without it they wouldn't have got the second goal. We were on top at that point and had the attacking options on the bench to change things as the game went on.

"It's just so disappointing to come here again and leave win the same result," he concluded.

Bartlett had three impressive games against the U's for Kidderminster this season but admitted he was 'devastated' at not being able to help the club into League Two.

"The call to come to Cambridge on Friday came totally out of the blue - a massive surprise," he said "I met the lads and trained alongside Danny Potter yesterday morning and everything about him looked well. He looked fit and sharp, and it was just a case of if his knee was going to hold up through the night.

"I got up this morning still thinking Danny was going to be fit enough to play the game, but unfortunately he had a few tests and became aware that his knee wouldn't hold up 90 minutes so I found out I was playing in the dressing room at 12 o'clock today.

"It's always difficult to get to know a new back four, although I've played with Wayne Hatswell in the England C squad last summer. But it's hard for everyone - Cambridge had the second best defensive record in the league and Danny Potter is a big part of that but the back four play a huge part in that. It's getting it all to gel together that is difficult."

Reflecting on the goals, Bartlett commented, "You can't really blame anyone for the first; he's run on to it and got it to sit up nicely in front of him. And Tim Sills wouldn't have had the second if Phil hadn't had been sent off. I thought his first yellow card was very harsh, so to be sent off for what was only his second foul of the game was very harsh."

He concluded, "Unfortunately again this year it wasn't to be for Cambridge. I feel for the fans and for the lads who have done so much over the 50 or so games. I've only played the one game but I'm devastated that I couldn't do a better job to help Cambridge into League Two."

Interviews by David Gray

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