Needing to beat Chester FC at the Deva Stadium on Saturday (April 29) to reach the Vanarama National League North play-offs it proved to be a step too far and the hosts, third in the league, ran out 4-0 winners.
A disappointing end to the season, but just a few months earlier the Bucks had been looking like relegation candidates. The upturn in the second part of their season, under new team manager Craig Elliott, has been remarkable. Going in to the Chester game, the team had experienced just one defeat in 20 outings.
Chester, generally on top, scored twice in each half. The Bucks were rarely at their new-found best. Their one clear chance fell to Diego De Girolamo after 50 minutes, bringing a top-class save from the home goalkeeper. It was the other 'keeper, Theo Richardson, who was kept busy for most of the match, though, and he made save after save, as Chester looked like prime promotion candidates. Full Match Report HERE
Craig Elliott is ready to start work for next season straightaway. He said: "We have produced a fantastic run. The lads have been terrific and we've created some exciting times for the fans, who have been superb, at home and away.
"In the end, we weren't quite good enough to make the play-offs. Efforts for the new term will be started without delay. We will be reflecting, seeing what we need to do and getting on with it."
The Bucks finished 11th in the league, their first season at this level, with 18 wins and 13 draws, 55 goals scored, amassing 67 points.