'We're going to go back home and celebrate anyway'

WHYTELEAFE CO-BOSS PRAISES PLAYERS FOR 'GREAT SEASON', DESPITE FA VASE FINAL LOSS AT WEMBLEY

- By IAN LAMONT

IMMENSE pride was the over-riding emotion for co-manager Kelly Waters and Ennio Gonnella after AFC Whyteleafe lost Sunday's FA Vase final 2-1 at Wembley to Whitstable Town in front of 4,500 supporters who had bought tickets for their section.

The players and many of the fans returned to Church Road to celebrate the season, in which they could yet be declared Combined Counties League Premier South champions.

Immediately after the gruelling match on a boiling day, which went to extra time, Gonnella said the atmosphere in the dressing room was "accepting - everyone is accepting".

"Everyone agrees that Whitstable deserved to win," he said. "We're going back to Church Road and we're going to celebrate anyway - and if we believe everything we read on Twitter we will probably celebrate being champions as well.

"The good news is that we might not be on a high today but we will be playing in a higher league next season - fingers crossed."

Ratification is subject to Redhill appealing a three point deduction through the FA and CCL appeals process after Jersey's appeal again similar punishment failed.