Cheltenham's Marlon Pack 'distraught' by play-off penalty miss

Cheltenham midfielder Marlon Pack was left "distraught" after his penalty was saved in their League Two play-off semi-final defeat by Northampton.

Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls stopped Pack's 15th-minute penalty before Luke Guttridge scored to send the Cobblers through 2-0 on aggregate on Sunday.

"I feel like I've let everyone down and it's hard to take at the minute," the 22-year-old told BBC Gloucestershire.

"I'm distraught and it's going to take me a while to get over it."

He continued: "I've scored three penalties this year and I was wondering whether to change my mind but I stuck to my guns and the keeper pulled off the save.

"I love this sport but right now it's a ruthless one."

Roy O'Donovan's goal gave Northampton a narrow lead in the first leg at Sixfields on Thursday and Mark Yates' side failed to make the breakthrough at home.

And the game could be Pack's last appearance for the club, with his contract due to end in the summer.

The former Portsmouth youngster looked set to join League One Swindon in January but the deal fell through.

Yates had hinted he wanted to keep Pack at the club, but the midfielder said after Sunday's defeat: "I've had a great two seasons but it's not the way I would have liked to have finished.

"I want to thank everyone for the time I've had here. I've grown up here and as a player I've matured.

"It will be a time that will always be close to my heart throughout my career. The fans have been great to me since day one and I can't thank them enough for that."