The league title has gone west. Now the man who ended that dream has told Worthing Thunder: "I expect you to win silverware this season."

Gary Stronarch punched the air in delight as his Plymouth Raiders won 74-71 in a frenetic shoot out at Worthing Leisure Centre on Saturday.

The result, clinched by four unanswered points in the final 27 seconds, leaves Plymouth poised to win the EBL division one title.

It also meant the 31 points of Jamal Johnson and back court vision of Daniel Hildreth counted for nothing.

But, as Thunder's players dragged themselves to the changing rooms, the man who plotted their downfall predicted the wait for a first piece of silverware may not continue much longer.

Thunder face Sutton in the EBL Trophy final on March 6, one of two paths to glory open to them after this fourth league defeat ended their title hopes.

Stronarch, whose men have lost just once, said: "This is a massive result because Worthing are a very good basketball team.

"They have got a quality coaching team in Gary Smith and Phil Waghorn, two very good Americans and some outstanding British players, so I'm over the moon.

"I think they will take the Trophy final and I wish them well. They deserve to get some silverware.

"I hope they beat Sutton because Sutton beat us (in the semis) and Worthing are a better ball club."

Not that Saturday was a time for looking ahead for Thunder. More a case of coming to terms with the end of the title dream.

As for the brighter tomorrow? Skipper Gaylon Moore admits that can wait until the next training night.

He said: "It's back to the drawing board on Wednesday. The league is out of our hands but all we can do is finish as high as we can and take the championship game.

"There's still a lot to look forward to but our chances of winning the league have dwindled to nothing.

"It's really hard to pinpoint what the game came down to. I don't really have any answers for it."

How about a lack of composure in the home straight? Or quiet nights for perimeter threats in David Butterworth and Steven Gayle?

Moore had an and-one 22 seconds into the final period and struck again to edge his side into a 71-70 lead with 2:07 to go.

From then, though, it was a case of misses by both sides until Myron Riley got inside to score with 27 seconds to play.

Dean Williams added a pair of free throws with three seconds on the clock and Gayle's half-courter on the buzzer was off target.

It always looked like coming down to the final play, even when James Brame provided the third-quarter spark which saw the hosts go on a 10-0 run to lead by seven.

Ironically, Moore felt Thunder's best spell was also a key to their downfall.

He said: "We got up by seven but we were still playing like we were behind.

"While we were doing that they were chipping away at the lead.

"They made a run at it and put themselves in a position to win it in the fourth quarter."

At least the Thunder directors, who have done wonders keeping basketball alive in Worthing, had a big crowd and lively atmosphere to show for their efforts.

Now that elusive first prize is the reward they really want.