New Welwyn Garden City captain Layne Eadie and his fellow fast-raiding full-back Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo were the big winners at the club’s annual awards night.
Eadie, who took over the club captaincy for the final weeks of the season when former skipper Brad Wadkins returned to Berkhamsted, was the top choice among the management, the players and supporters for their player of the year.
Otseh-Taiwo meanwhile took the honours as the committee's player of the year and the club's young player.
Both have been virtual ever-presents in manager Marc Weatherstone’s line-up all season, with Otseh-Taiwo playing 41 times and Eadie making 39 appearances.
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Weatherstone pronounced himself “a little disappointed’’ with a season’s finish of ninth place for the second successive campaign, although WGC finished with three points more this time.
In his three seasons in charge, the Citizens have always ended in the top 10 of the Southern League Division One Central with one eighth and two ninth-place finishes.
“It’s been a tougher season this time,’’ Weatherstone told those attending. "Last season 59 points got a side into the play-offs. This time, it’s been 74 points that has won the last play-off place.
“I feel we’ve done well, but just fell a little short. We’ve underachieved.
"But I’m sure if the club can keep the core of this squad together for next season, we’ll be challenging because we’re not far away.’’
The top scorer of the season award was shared by Lewis Taaffe and Lewis Jones, who both notched seven goals apiece.
But the fact that it was such a lowish total highlighted the problem that blighted WGC’s season – a lack of goals.
The loss of top scorer Bailey Stevenson in November to Isthmian neighbours Potters Bar Town, and then Wadkins in the final weeks of the season, proved costly to the club’s campaign
On-loan striker Nick Ralfe helped fill the void for a short period, but then he suffered a season-ending injury and the loan from St Albans City was prematurely ended.
Yet, WGC can still still end the season with silverware.
They contest the Herts Charity Cup final with long-time rivals Hadley on Thursday.
Kick-off at the County Ground in Letchworth is at 7.45pm.
Potters Bar Town held their own awards evening earlier in the bank holiday weekend.
Taking place at Middey's Brasserie in the town, the destination of the awards was shared around.
The supporters were split between Ronnie Henry and Prosper Keto for their player of the season so the defenders shared the prize.
Joe Re was the winner of the players' player and Harry Brant took home the young player of the season award after an impressive breakthrough campaign.
Goal of the season went to Bailey Stevenson's long-range effort on debut against Chichester City in November.
And there were two very deserving awards, firstly to Alan Evans as clubman of the season while John Robinson was presented with a Herts FA award for 50 years of service.
