NEWPORT County AFC players were gutted to miss out on a return to Wembley in the Leasing.com Trophy final but they they now have 15 games to get back there in the League Two play-off final, according to defender Mickey Demetriou.

County bowed out of the Trophy at the semi-final stage on Wednesday night, losing 6-5 on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw with Salford City at Rodney Parade.

That was a bitter blow to swallow for the Exiles, but Demetriou is convinced that they can still match last season’s late charge to the play-offs.

“It’s obviously disappointing but we have to forget about that now, as hard as it’s going to be,” said the centre-back.

“It was a hard one to get over because we were so close to Wembley again, but it was worse last year [in the play-off final] – we were a minute away from taking it to penalties for a chance to play League One football.

“We’ve got 15 league games now to try to get there again.

“We’re 12 points behind [seventh-placed] Colchester with three games in hand, and we’ve still got them to play.

“So, if we pick up and go on a little run, we can claw a few teams back towards us and those games in hand could creep us back towards to the play-offs.

“We did it last year,” he added. “We started a run – 12 games unbeaten I think it was – in March [last season].

“We have to start it this weekend against Bradford.”

South Wales Argus:

Michael Flynn’s men 16th in the table, 11 points behind today’s opponents – ninth-placed Bradford City – with three games in hand.

“It’s an important one because we have to bounce back and it would be great to do it against one of the big teams in the league,” said Demetriou.

“They’re obviously a very good side. They’re going for the same thing – to try to get into the play-offs – and it will be a tough game.

“But it’s never an easy ride and we don’t expect anything less.

“We’ve been through a bad patch and we need to find a way out of it.

“And we want to finish as strong as we can. If we don’t get to where we want to be, we still need to finish the season strongly because it can help us build for next season.”

The centre-back was pleased to see left-back Ryan Haynes return from injury in midweek but he’s happy to fill in wherever he’s needed to help the team – even in goal.

“It brings me back in to a more favoured position,” said Demetriou.

“But I’ve played just as many games at left-back and left wing-back as I have at centre-half and If I need to do a job for the team I will do. I enjoyed it out there.”

Asked if he would provide emergency cover for goalkeeper Tom King with Nick Townsend sidelined, the defender said: “I have no idea. I did it once when I was at Shrewsbury, but I know the gaffer is working hard to get someone in. It’s not ideal.”

Read more: Newport County boss Michael Flynn hoping for positive end to the campaign