The contrast in emotions for both sides at the end of this final day title decider couldn't have been greater.
Gosport Borough's players danced jigs of delight as they lifted the Wessex Premier Division trophy for the first time in their history at Testwood Park despite defeat.
While AFC Totton's players were slumped on the ground, many with heads in hands, having lost out agonisingly to their title rivals by a goal difference of just two.
In the end, it all got too much for Totton's players who trudged back to the dressing room with their heads bowed as Gosport's title celebrations carried on.
But such is the youthful optimism and bring on the next challenge' attitude coarsing through Stuart Ritchie's young side that the "heartbreak" of losing the title was quickly put to one side.
And after the game the focus was instead on making up for failing to add a second goal to Mark Osman's strike five minutes from time - which would have seen them pip Gosport to the title by virtue of having scored more goals - by winning the FA Vase at Wembley in two weeks against Truro City.
"We felt gutted seeing them walk off with the title," reflected midfielder Jamie Austen, Totton's 24 year-old captain.
"But we can't live on this and be devastated for the rest of the season.
"We can analyse this game and the league after the final.
"Today will give us an extra incentive to win the Vase and I want to pick up the trophy because no-one ever remembers second.
"We have got to get our heads clear get ready for the final, have a good go at it and hopefully win it."
Totton knew they had to win by two or more goals to claim the title for the first time ever.
And it wasn't for want of trying that they failed.
Mike Gosney's left foot was instrumental in virtually every chance Totton created.
Floyd Hamodu's sixth-minute header, the game's first chance, from Gosney's corner was comfortably held by keeper Mark Brown.
Gosport's Danny Thompson then showed his right foot could be as dangerous as Gosney's left, hitting the post direct from a 24th minute in-swinging corner.
He struck the top of the bar with another effort four minutes later.
Gosney's top corner-bound free-kick from the edge of the box was palmed clear by Brown on the half hour.
Then, on the stroke of half- time, Brown was lucky to see Gosney's corner, which he had flapped at and missed, strike Gareth Byres and loop over the bar.
Gosport had two efforts cleared off the line at the start of the second half.
But after that Gosport were content to hold what they had while Totton threw everything at their visitors.
Hamodu and Byres forced Brown into action twice in a minute with 25 minutes left.
Osman's sliced volley then came down onto the top of the bar.
Gosney volleyed wide on 75 minutes and, when Osman flicked a header wide from eight yards with ten minutes left, it looked like the door had closed on Totton' title hopes.
But Osman kept that door slightly ajar with five minutes left when he got on the end of a Gosney delivery to slam the ball into the net at the back post.
But when Osman's volley from the edge of the box two minutes into injury time skimmed narrowly over, the door closed for good. And the final result left Gosport dancing.
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