South Shields Women forward Sophie Greener says it "didn't seem to be our day" following the side's heavy 5-1 defeat to champions-elect Barnsley FC Women on Sunday.
The damage was done midway through the first half, when two quickfire goals stunned a Mariners side who started the day with a slim, but not impossible, crack at the title.
Regardless, the result was a difficult one to take given it mathematically ended all hopes of a title win, and promotion into the FA Women's National League.
Greener feels as though Shields played better than the Reds for large spells out there.
She said: “We played the better football for the majority of the game, which is why it was so hard to take a defeat with the scoreline of what it was.
“We had many chances but it didn’t seem to be our day.”
Shields were down but not out at the break, after Jaz Elliott-Wood halfed the deficit with a goal just like the one she scored a few weeks ago against Spennymoor Town Ladies.
Alayna Millard's 4o-yard screamer just two minutes into the second half ended any chance of a comeback.
However Greener says the players "should be proud of" the team's character.
“The second half was tough," she reflected.
"Everyone kept going until the end, they didn’t give up, still attacking as well as defending really well and I think that’s something the girls should be proud of."
That result, combined with scorelines around the grounds, mean that Shields are unable to win the NERWFL Premier Division, and can no longer finish second either.
The lasses' final game of the season is against Sunderland West End Ladies on Wednesday, and a positive result could give the team every chance of finishing the season in third place.
She finished: “Even though we aren’t able to compete for promotion on Wednesday, I think the girls will definitely be up for it, especially after Sunday.
"To end the season with a win would be ideal.”
Follow along on Twitter/X and Instagram for all the build-up, score updates, goals and reactions for the season finale!