TOWN hero Andy Booth couldn't hide his disappointment at missing out on automatic promotion despite netting the 100th goal of his Town career.

The 30-year-old striker, wearing the captain's armband in his 278th start for the club, played his heart out at Whaddon Road but ended up in tears in the dressing room after the 1-1 draw.

Booth put Town ahead on 15 minutes, joining George Brown, Jimmy Glazzard, Billy Smith and Les Massie as the only men to reach three figures in Town colours.

It was little consolation, however, following Shane Duff's equaliser which meant Town finished fourth and in the play-offs, leapfrogged by Torquay on goal difference after their 2-1 win at Southend.

"I would give away all my goals just to be promoted at this moment in time," said Booth.

"We would have accepted the play-offs if they'd been offered at the start of the season but, now, we are going to have to lift ourselves for them.

"It's not going to be easy, but the manager and Taff will talk things through and we'll start afresh looking towards a massive game this weekend."

Twice relegated in his second spell with the club and once a play-off loser (2002), after helping Town win the 1995 final against Bristol Rovers with a goal at Wembley, Booth reckoned Saturday was the worst moment of his career.

"This feels worse than when we were relegated from the First Division," he said. "I remember the changing room then and it was bad, but this was worse. The lads have worked so hard all season to achieve promotion and it's bitterly disappointing to go so close and then miss out.

"What we've got to do now - players, management, staff and fans - is stick together for the play-offs.

"We are all devastated at the moment, but winning the play-offs is probably the best way to go up so we've now got to aim to do it via Cardiff."