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Andy Hessenthaler was keen to put things into perspective after Dover’s relegation from the National League was confirmed.
A 2-0 home loss to Yeovil brought Whites’ eight-year stay in the league to an end, with a quarter of the season - 11 matches - still to play this season.
Dover manager Hessenthaler, set to stay at Crabble next season, admitted it was a sad day for the club on Saturday - but he's relieved the part-time club does have a future.
“It’s a sad day, obviously, going out of the division,” he admitted.
“But it would have been a sadder day if there wasn’t going to be a football club here next season.
“The one thing there will be is a football club next season, competing in National League South at a level they will be able to compete at.”
Centre-back Ben Barclay scored for the Glovers in the first period before midfielder Dale Gorman added a second with a free-kick to seal basement boys Dover’s fate.
Hessenthaler reflected: “(It was a) poor performance, to be fair. We can’t hide from that.
“A lot of players didn’t get going. There were too many off their game for me.
“We went to Halifax last week (losing 2-1) and they were on their game. That’s been the story of our season - too inconsistent.
“But credit to the young boys that came on and the young boys that started. I thought Alfie Pavey was excellent, put himself about but, other than that, there weren’t too many good performances.
“There wasn’t a lot in the game. They only had one shot in the second half, we had one shot.
“The first goal was poor from us. Second goal, I don’t think it was a foul leading up to it.
“But we can’t rely on the officials - they were poor again. It wasn’t good today.”
As well as the decision to award Yeovil a free-kick which led to their second goal, the Dover contingent were also frustrated with second-half decisions which saw on-loan attacker Michael Gyasi have a goal ruled out for offside and referee Matthew Russell wave away late penalty appeals after a challenge on Gyasi.
Hessenthaler, who was without nine first-team squad players, said: “We were limited with numbers in terms of the squad because we have got too many injuries, which I’m disappointed with.
“So we had a few young players on the bench. You can’t blame the officials all the time but they were poor today.
“The second goal, for me, definitely was a good challenge. You saw where the ball went. But we have made some poor decisions (as well).
“It wasn’t a good game, was it?”
Hessenthaler was cautioned after Yeovil’s second which had come after a controversial decision to award a free-kick.
Hessenthaler, who brought 16-year-old Academy midfielder Kieron Agbebi off the bench for his debut, commented: “We all can see it.
“The fourth official (Alan Creswell) said it wasn’t a foul from where he was. The referee was closer but said it was a foul!
“What’s the difference with the one with Michael at the end there in the box? Is that not a foul?
“But like I say, you can’t keep blaming the referees. I thought they (the officials) were poor.
“There aren't many good ones in this division. The ones that are good get moved up and we lose them.
“It’s a tough day (overall).”
A minute's silence was observed before the match following the death of popular club photographer Simon Harris.
