Paul Buckle says his players will come back stronger (Getty)

Torquay United manager Paul Buckle said his side were not good enough to beat Ebbsfleet United in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

Former Gulls player Chris McPhee got the only goal to see Torquay's bright end to the season dashed.

"It weren't for a lack of effort and it weren't for a lack of organisation. But there's a lot to be thankful for this season, there really is," Buckle said.

"We weren't quite good enough on the day to win the trophy," he added.

Just a week before the FA Trophy final, Torquay beat Devon rivals Exeter City in the Blue Square Premier play-off semi final first leg.

But a 4-1 defeat at home in the second leg, where they conceded three goals in the final 20 minutes, followed by Saturday's FA Trophy defeat, has left the club with nothing to show for their first season in the Blue Square Premier.

"We've gone very, very close. It's very disappointing that we haven't won anything.

"I'm sure our supporters will come back stronger like I will and like the players will," he told BBC Radio Devon.