Penistone Church manager Ian Richards admits he will face a tough task to keep all his star players this summer but has vowed to improve on this year's play-off semi-final loss.

After finishing fifth in the Northern Counties East Division One, Church visited fourth-placed AFC Emley on Tuesday and conceded a heart-breaking 87th-minute goal in a 1-0 loss. In front of a crowd of 463, including Penistone man and Barnsley FC player Marc Roberts, Richards' men matched their hosts but were edged out.

"We're really disappointed to miss out on promotion but we have to look at the positives," said the manager.

"I can't fault the players, they should be proud of their achievements. We have finished the highest this club has ever finished, put the club into the FA Cup for the first time and have only lost seven all season. The players have done the football club proud and the club is in a much better position because of these players. It is very disappointing to end it at Emley in the play-off semi-final but that's football and we have to accept it. We will celebrate the season we have had then try to go one better next year."

Richards admits other clubs will be looking at his star men such as 19-goal strikers Lewis Dickinson and Oliver Fearon. He said: "First and foremost, I am fully committed to getting this club into the Premier Division.  My most difficult job this summer will be keeping hold of my players. There will be clubs interested in our players and, if they are offered money, we can't compete with that so we have to convince them it is the right club for them to be at."

Penistone started brightly on Tuesday but put several headers just off target including when Fearon nodded a right-wing cross wide from five yards out when he looked certain to score in the 18th minute. Emley offered very little until just before half-time when 73-goal striker Ashley Flynn put a great a chance over the bar from close range.

The hosts started well after the break and went very close when Flynn hit the bar before the rebound was brilliantly headed off the line by Tom Cadzow. Penistone got back into the game and Fearon's 20-yard shot forced a good save from the Emley goalkeeper who then smothered the rebound from substitute Andy Ring. The home team eventually scored when a low left-wing cross was collected by Kieran Ryan who turned and fired in with Church claiming for handball.

Penistone substitute Dickinson almost levelled when he was played in one-on-one at a tight angle but was denied by a fine save. Dickinson's cross was then headed home by Danny Joynes in the 92nd minute but it was ruled offside. Richards said: "The linesman was very sure but Danny thought he had come from behind the man."

Three days earlier, Penistone had finished their Division One campaign by scoring two injury-time goals to win 3-2 at Grimsby Borough on Saturday. Joynes put Church, who had already secured a play-off spot, ahead midway through the first half but the hosts levelled almost instantly then took the lead after 89 minutes. Brett Lovell made it 2-2 in the second minute of injury-time then Dickinson won it in the third. The result meant Penistone were unbeaten in their final 12 league matches stretching back to January, winning seven of the last eight.