Furious Gary Setchell read the riot act after King's Lynn Town all but kissed goodbye to their United Counties Premier Division title hopes following a dismal 1-1 draw with Desborough Town on Saturday.

The Linnets boss apologised to the 865 supporters who packed The Walks in the hope of seeing their side take the UCL title race into a final-day decider after witnessing the 'worst performance' of his two-year reign.

In a brutally honest assessment of his side, Setchell admitted his players have not been good enough when it mattered in their last two games as Lynn look set to fall at the final hurdle for the second year running.

The Lynn boss said: 'Last week we got beat by a good side (Long Buckby) and we can accept that. We made two mistakes and we can accept that.

'But what I won't accept is that we curled over and died on Saturday. We went 1-0 up and we probably didn't deserve it. It just painted over the cracks of a diabolical performance. It was the worst performance I've had at the football club since I've been here and it's probably come at the worse time it could have done.

'I knew it would be a job to pick the players up but they've got a responsibility when they cross the white line to do things properly. I've learnt more about my players in the last game and a half than I have done in the previous 38. Some of the players obviously don't want to be here enough.

'It was unacceptable and I can only apologise because it simply wasn't good enough. I don't want to put my name to that performance but I have to – I pick the team and they're my players. They've done well for us over the last 10 months but when we really needed to kick on we've been found wanting.

Jason Turner scored in his eighth consecutive appearance to put Lynn 1-0 up but Tom Mills scored a deserved equaliser for Ar Tarn as table-topping Lynn dropped two vital points on an afternoon that Buckby hammered Boston Town 7-1.

Glen Cotterill's Bucks are now just one point behind Lynn and play their game in hand tomorrow against Cogenhoe United.

Setchell said: 'I'd say the title race is pretty much over. It was always going to be difficult for us but we needed to keep the pressure on Buckby.

'They've got a tough game at Cogenhoe, they've got a game against Blackstones, and it's bitterly, bitterly disappointing we couldn't take it into the final week.

'It's an anti-climax to what had been an alright season. This time last week at half time we were looking like being champions and now it's been taken away. We've got players and a squad here that we thought was good enough to go on and win the league but unfortunately we haven't.

'Buckby are a tremendous UCL side – they've got a good spine through the middle of the pitch but I felt we were as good as them this season. Although they've beaten us twice – narrowly – I really felt this year we had the tools to go on and win the league. After 20 minutes last week it looked likely but we've just had a massive fall from grace in the last game and a half.'