York City right-back Ben Purkiss was in awe of the club’s tremendous support for the FA Trophy final at Wembley, as he told STEVE CARROLL.

BEN PURKISS declared his Wembley experience would not have been the same without York City’s roaring supporters.

While distraught at the Minstermen’s 2-0 loss to Stevenage in the FA Trophy final, the popular right-back said the noise created by the City faithful ensured it was a “brilliant experience” despite the result.

“I felt a little bit nervous in the morning but when when I got out there and heard the roar – it was a brilliant experience,” Purkiss said.

“It is difficult to put into words. It was just a frustrating 90 minutes. I would like to thank the fans for coming in their numbers, making the noise they did.

“That makes a massive difference. Without them, it would not have been the same experience.

“I hope they enjoyed their day as well and, hopefully, they will get to experience it again sometime.”

Purkiss said there was “massive disappointment” at City’s defeat and revealed he had been frustrated he could not play a more prominent role on the pitch.

“I would have liked to have got on the ball a bit more really. It was difficult. They played with Peter Vincenti out on the left wing.

“I don’t know if they tried to stop us getting on the ball because, in previous games, I have had a lot of the ball and have been able to get up and down that right hand side and create some chances.

“When I did get the ball, I felt I distributed it well. The free-kick at the end went up and down but it was wide.

“There were positives but you want to be at your maximum at Wembley so there is a little bit of frustration.

“But they set up to keep the ball and they did it well.”

On Stevenage’s crucial first goal, Purkiss, who was unable to prevent Stevenage striker Steve Morison poking home from close range, added: “Overall, I thought Dave McGurk did a good job on Steve Morison and he has probably had only one or two chances.

“But that’s what the top players in any league do. If they get a chance, they take their goal.

“He was stretching and it just dropped to him but, fair play, he was in the right place at the right time. He took his goal well and that was the game over really.

“We had our chances. You hope to take them, but we were limited to mainly 20-yard efforts.

“It probably wasn’t the best game for the neutral.”