Gary Naysmith admitted that missing out on promotion was a bitter pill to swallow for East Fife.
The Bayview club’s pre-season ambitions had been to restore their League One status after they dropped down a division last year.
At the weekend, though, it was confirmed the Fifers would again be part of League Two after Stenny advanced to the play-off finals following a 3-1 win at Ochilview after extra-time.
The sides had gone into the game level following a 1-1 first leg draw in Methil.
Boss Naysmith said: “We’ve finished fourth and got into the play-offs but have we really achieved anything apart from bringing in another couple of games for the club?
“My whole career in football has been about winning and winning for East Fife was getting promotion.
“We haven’t done that.
“I can’t criticise the players they’ve been fantastic since Christmas.
“They gave me everything and that’s all you can ask for as a manager.
“The fans came out and backed us and they’ve been great as well because there has been a bit of uncertainty at the club during the season.
“It’s just a pity that we couldn’t have given them a two-legged final.
“I’ll now have to stew over it over the summer but I want to use this as motivation to do better next year.”
It took the Fifers just a couple of minutes to break the deadlock when the sides met in the first leg on Wednesday.
The trick was repeated at the weekend but this time it was Stenny grabbing the early initiative when Kieran Miller side-footed home a Ciaran Summers cross after two minutes.
But East Fife went on to defend well after the early goal and gradually settled into the game.
A couple of decent corners had been scrambled clear by the home side before Nathan Austin fired in a close range effort which stung Greg Fleming’s palms.
Derek Riordan was next to test the Stenny No 1 with a low drive the former Dunfermline keeper saved with his feet.
The second half followed the same pattern with the Fifers looking to restore parity.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart Kevin Smith was given a clear sight of goal but his effort from the edge of the box was dragged wide.
The home keeper was by far the busier of the two and Fleming again saved with his feet, this time to keep out an Allan Walker effort.
The pressure continued and it was wave after wave of East Fife attack.
Alan Cook was introduced from the bench, which added even further attacking impetus.
Jonathan Page was added to a long list of Fifers to find Fleming equal to his effort as the defender’s header was held.
It was one-way traffic with the Stenny defence being given no respite.
Former Warrior Sean Dickson almost pulled Naysmith’s men level but his drive from the edge of the box was beaten away by the Stenny keeper.
In the dying moments the pressure finally paid off as Page headed home a Walker cross at the back post to send the game into extra time.
Stenny got their noses in front again when the Fifers were unable to clear their lines inside the six-yard box and Jamie McCormack took advantage by finishing from a couple of yards.
And the extra time win was wrapped up when Bryan Hodge found Craig Sutherland and he fired high into the net.