In the end, it wasn’t to be for Wrexham.
And perhaps a quartet of consecutive promotions was asking too much for even a club touched by Hollywood.
It is four years since the last time the final game of the season wasn’t one of jubilant scenes.
Those in red immediately fell to the turf after referee Oliver Langford blew his whistle to bring the contest with Middlesbrough to an end.
Amid the disappointment, there would still have been plenty to smile about for supporters making their way out of Stok Cae Ras.
After all, this was still the north Wales club’s highest-ever league finish in their history.
Co-chairman Ryan Reynolds’s summary was apt.
“I am completely gutted by today’s result but incredibly proud of our season,” he wrote on social media.
“We’ve come a long way in five years and this was the best result in our 150+ year history. More to do. But for now, we have so much to be proud of. Reds.”
Director Shaun Harvey had already reminded all that the season would be viewed as a success, saying the campaign was one of “nearly” making it rather than “we just missed out”.
Swiftly after the match, manager Phil Parkinson said he expects the club to be stronger next season – with Wrexham likely to be serious contenders for promotion.
But, to do that, they will analyse how, why and where they fell short this term.
Just as fans may wonder whether their club might have missed an opportunity to rewrite the record books all over again.
