Robbie Willmott and Dan Gleeson both graduated through the youth system at Cambridge United and they were both hurt by United's failure to deliver for their supporters in Sunday's Play-off Final.

Robbie's game was over in the 81st minute when he limped off with a calf injury, which will be assessed this week. By then United were trailing two-nil and were down to ten men, but the 18-year-old winger felt his side had enough possession and chances to win the game.

"It's amazing how we have had all the possession and were on top for the ninety minutes, but Torquay have had two or three chances and been clinical and perhaps that's why they are celebrating" he reflected.

"We had the chances but weren't clinical enough and that's why we lost. Second half they only really got a sniff after we went down to ten men and hit us on the break."

Torquay's second goal arrived after Phil Bolland had been dismissed for two yellow cards, and Willmott felt the big defender could have few complaints about the second booking for a clumsy challenge on Elliot Benyon.

"To be fair I thought it was the correct decision and it deserved the second yellow," he said. "The lad was going away from goal and you should stand up and push them out. But there are times when your heart rules your head in games like this.

"Bolly has given so much for this club this season, travelling away from his family week in week out, and his performances have been fantastic. It's just such a shame that this has happened today."

Concluding with praise for the opposition and also for United's 19,000 supporters, he added, "I have to give credit to Torquay, they defended well, Hargreaves was immense for them, doubling up on any one of us who were in danger of getting in on goal. Fair play to them they took their chances and good luck to them in the league.

"This year we thought we've done everything right in the build up and it just is devastating. We all feel so sorry for the fans, there's 19-odd thousand out there today and it's amazing support for us. We just feel for them so much that we couldn't deliver that place back in the league for them."

Team-mate Gleeson also praised Torquay for their win bur admitted that a second Play-off defeat in two seasons was hard to take: "We learned from last year and we came out here a better side than last year and there's not one person in the stadium that can say we didn't play well.

"We've had the majority of possession but just haven't created enough chances and their keeper hasn't had a save to make. Defensively Torquay have worked their nuts off out there; they sat back and soaked up a hell of a lot of possession and we are all devastated that we couldn't convert that possession into goals."

Speaking about the supporters, the Cambridge-born defender added, "It's like déjà-vu to be here again talking like this. If anyone deserved promotion it was those fans out there. They've outnumbered Torquay 3 to 1 and they were magnificent.

"We can't ask for any more from them," he added. "The last three or so games at home we've had 6-7,000 in the ground and there are clubs in League 1 who don't match that. We all can't thank them enough and they deserve promotion as much as we do.

"I really thought today was going to be the day but we'll have to go that one place better next year. It's just so hard to take but I suppose that's football and that's why people love it. I just don't at the moment."

Interviews by David Gray

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