Jamie Coyle pointed to a lack of quality when it mattered after Ramsgate’s promotion hopes ended last night.

Rams gave everything in their Isthmian South East play-off semi-final against Hythe.

They took an extra-time lead through Theo Osinfolarin but couldn’t get over the line and lost 4-3 on spot-kicks.

Coyle described the penalty award that got Hythe back in the game as “outrageous” after keeper Patrick Lee was adjudged to have brought down Johan Caney-Bryan.

But that wasn’t the reason a campaign that saw them fighting for the title ultimately ended in frustration.

“We just didn’t create enough clear-cut chances tonight and that’s been the story of the last five or six weeks,” said boss Coyle.

“The boys have given us everything, and that’s why I thanked them at the end because in terms of their work ethic and their desire, they’ve been outstanding.

“But the quality has just been a little bit short and that’s the reason we didn’t win the league and that’s the reason we’ve not killed the game off tonight.

“I thought Hythe looked tired towards the end and I thought naturally we were going to get stronger where we’ve got a bigger squad.

“We felt the longer the game went on we’d create more and more opportunities, which we did, but it’s just the end product, the final ball, the final finish, that’s been missing, not only tonight but for a few weeks.

“The boys are going out there every week and they’re turning in great performances in terms of the work ethic but at this level, especially in the last few weeks, we’ve lacked a bit of quality in the final third.”

League runners-up Ramsgate appeared to be on their way to a home final against Whitehawk on Friday after Osinfolarin finished TJ Jadama’s cross.

But they were pegged back when referee Craig Barnett awarded Hythe their penalty, converted by Frannie Collin.

“You look at the grand scheme of things and I thought we did enough to win the game,” said Coyle

“The officials have made the decision to give the penalty, which I thought was outrageous, I really did.

“Even their bench and the fourth official agreed it didn’t look like a penalty but it happens sometimes and it’s cost us.

“We were a long way away but from we’ve seen, Patch and their forward got there at the same time but the referee’s given it.

“We still had three or four really good opportunities to score but it’s that final pass again or the finish that was short.

“I’m disappointed, more so for the players because we’ve got a lot of boys who’ve never been in play-offs before and haven’t had any promotions before and it would have been nice to reward them for all their hard work.

“It’s not just the players I feel for, it’s the club, because they’ve done so much behind the scenes to get this club ready for the next league.”

Coyle hopes Hythe go on and finish the job against Whitehawk, who beat Beckenham 1-0 in the other semi-final.

He’ll do what he can to help his old club.

“I just hope now that Hythe go on and win it,” said Coyle.

“I’m going to support Watty (Hythe boss Steve Watt) and share with him the Whitehawk game we played a couple of weeks ago.

“We also had a scout at their semi-final, in preparation for us potentially getting to the final, so I can share the report from that as well.

“Watty’s a good friend of mine and I’ve played for Hythe before and they’re a brilliant club.

“There’s some really good people behind the scenes and I’ll fully support them after tonight to go and win it on Friday.”