A disappointed Leon Pryce admitted his side were up against it after losing two experienced players early in the Betfred League One play-off final against Bradford.

The Bulls won the promotion decider at Odsal 27-8 and Town's season will now extend for another week as they must travel to Swinton next weekend for another bite of the cherry.

But that brings its own problems with several of the Town players on holiday, booked before the RFL changed the goalposts.

Sean Penkywicz and Ollie Wilkes both left the field early in the final with injury and Town also had Fuifui Moimoi sent off in the latter stages of the game.

"As soon as we lost key players so early in the game, it was always going to be difficult to win," said Pryce.

"I don't think there was anything to be down about but our preparation didn't match the occasion. We couldn't stay overnight and had to travel down on the day and that showed with muscle injuries.

"But that's where we are as a club, we can't match the finances of clubs like this.

"The writing was on the wall when we lost those two but I was proud of the way the boys stuck in.

"At the end of the day we got beat by the better team and congratulations to Bradford. I have no qualms about that and full credit to them."

But he reiterated his views that his side, with restricted finances, were always going to be up against it, compared to teams like Bradford that have more available to them.

"In the end Bradford have probably spent five times more than we have and if you had asked anyone at the start of the season, they would have said they should have won automatic promotion," he added.

Pryce admitted it would be tough to extend the season, with the problems they now face, with Swinton winning the coin toss that means they host the final game.

"We have picked up injuries and have about four on holiday and Moimoi sent off so it will be hard just to get a 17 together," said Pryce.

"But to put a new fixture in at this late stage in proceedings, it is always going to make it hard."

Pryce did pay tribute to the 'unbelievable support' that had travelled down from Workington to back the team.

He added: "The support was brilliant and we all thank them, it was just a shame we couldn't win for them but I did think we matched them for effort for most of the game."