Defender Karim El-Salahi reckons the pain of missing out on promotion and silverware will not put off 99 per cent of the Sutton United squad for another crack next season.

Boss Paul Doswell watched a full-strength side crash 2-1 to Ryman Division One South Godalming Town in the Surrey Senior Cup final on Tuesday to complete a miserable week for his men after their play-off semi-final disappointment at the hands of Kingstonian.

The Gander Green Lane chief is likely to keep faith with a large proportion of his squad for a crack at the Ryman League Premier Division title next season, having seen a slow start to the campaign again cost his side.

He has hinted he may supplement his strike force with a 30-goal-a-season striker in the mould of Ks hotshot Bobby Traynor, and El-Salahi agrees major surgery will not be required.

“We want to win the league. We got together a group of players capable of doing that two years ago and didn’t. That has happened again this season,” he said.

“New players can take a while to gel. That has proven to be the case in the last two seasons and it has probably cost us.

“Hopefully, there will be enough of us here next year to take our form since Christmas into the start of next season.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the players would probably stay to give it another go if they were asked. It is up to the gaffer and if he decides otherwise that is fair enough.”

Charlie Taylor gave his side the lead on Tuesday night but then missed a penalty with 18 minutes to go at Imber Court, before Town hit back with two goals in four minutes.

It compounded the misery of last week’s 4-2 defeat to Ks and El-Salahi reckons the last seven days have been difficult to accept.

“It has been the story of our season. We’ve been ahead in games and dominated, but we’ve not always been able to make it count,” he added.

“All we have worked for this season came to nothing in a bad 45 minutes last week.

“The cup final was supposed to be the icing on the cake. It is a cup final we wanted to win, so it is very difficult to take when things don’t work out how you want them to.”