Punjab United manager Chipie Sian reacts to 2-0 FA Vase semi-final second leg defeat to Cockfosters and turns focus to Southern Counties East play-off race

Proud Punjab United boss Chipie Sian has urged his deflated players to lift themselves to keep their play-off push on track.

Having suffered FA Vase semi-final heartache after losing the second leg 2-0 at home to Cockfosters on Saturday, it’s not all gloom and doom for Punjab.

The Southern Counties East Premier Division side sit three points outside the top five with games in hand on most of the teams around them.

They make the short trip to fellow play-off hopefuls Sutton Athletic on Easter Monday.

“We're going to have to pick ourselves up because we've still got a play-off to play for,” said Sian.

“We've got a (Kent Senior) cup final on April 19 against Whitstable, which isn’t going to be easy.

“I'm proud of them. We're a small club compared to a lot of these clubs. There's no excuses in that but we're a small, lovely, family club.

“We've gone head-to-head with the top teams in the country, and we've just come a little bit short of playing at Wembley.

“I'm just sorry to everyone in Gravesham who has come and supported us.

“I think there's 1,200 people who have come through the door. I apologise for the performance.

“I've just got to pick myself up tomorrow. I don't know how I'm going to do that.

“I've said to the players, ‘I'm proud of you and I think whatever we've achieved has been amazing’.

“I don't think I'll realise how big this achievement is, a semi-final in FA Vase, and put an Asian team on the map.

“I've just set the challenge to them. If you win a play-off, all this goes away. You won't think about this at all, you'll be playing Step 4.

“Can we do it? I know this team can do it. But it ain't going to be easy. Every league game is a tough game but they've got to do that now.

“I've done my bit. They've got to