YORK College/i2i Football Academy will "learn from their mistakes" after losing 4-1 to Fowler Education Football Academy in the English Colleges FA Play-off National final at Vale Park.

This was York's fourth national final in three years under head coaches Michael Morton and Simon Collins, and the last to feature Sheffield United-bound right-back Harry Sheppeard.

Both coaches were left frustrated after the game against the team hailing from Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler's academy, with Morton admitting: “We didn’t perform anywhere near where we expected. It was one of the worst performances of the season.”

But Collins added: “We can’t take anything away from the season we’ve had - second-best team in the country as well as winning the league for the first time which is a fantastic achievement for a city the size of York.

"We’ll learn from our mistakes and go again next year.”

York made a positive start to the game as centre-back Owen Marshall threatened with two headers from corners, seeing one hooked off the line.

Daniel Omesibi was next to rise highest from a set piece but the towering left-back powered narrowly wide - before the woodwork was rattled by both sides.

York keeper Nick Lock was beaten by a header but it clipped off the underside of the crossbar. At the other end, Charlie Birley's clever goalward flick from Omesibi's cross came back off a post.

FEFA then drew first blood as tricky number 10 Leon Arnasalam rounded Lock to smash in.

York had the ball in the net within a minute as Birley converted Max Tweddle's cross - only for the offside flag to go up.

FEFA doubled their lead soon after as a header was spilled by Lock and tapped in by Arnasalam but, again, the York response was impressive.

They won a penalty through Donald Chimalilo, but Sean Hunter's spot kick was saved.

Hunter also failed to convert Matty Savage's through ball after the interval, and FEFA effectively killed off the game when Jack Dunn's towering header gave the clinical side a three-goal lead.

York pulled one back four minutes later as substitute Ed Jackson's penalty sent the keeper the wrong way, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly quelled as Declan Daniels wrapped up the win.

York College/i2i: Lock, Sheppeard, Omesibi, Savage, Barber, Marshall, Hunter, Kral, Birley, Chimalilo, Tweddle.

Subs (all used): Davison, Jackson, Rogerson, Anderson, Scrowston.