STEVE ROBERTS refused to let personal disappointment overshadow Wrexham's fabulous cup success at The Millennium Stadium.

The centre-back had helped his home-town club, where he had come through the youth ranks, reach the LDV Vans Trophy final in the 2004-5 season where Southend United were the Reds' opponents in the Welsh capital.

A regular in the heart of the defence, Roberts was a guaranteed starter for one of the biggest day's in the club's history.

But the dream of playing in a major cup final turned to agony as Roberts was forced off with a knee injury after just 14 minutes.

Roberts watched on from the sidelines as neither side was able to break the deadlock until the showpiece reached extra-time where goals in each half from prolific striker Juan Ugarte and captain Darren Ferguson sealed victory for the Reds.

Though disappointed his afternoon came to an abrupt end, Roberts insists injury failed to take the shine off Wrexham's win.

"It was pretty much from the kick-off that I went for a header and the lad has landed awkwardly on top of my leg," said Roberts.

"I twisted my knee, I hobbled on for however long it was and then I had to be honest about it.

"It was just one of those things. Shaun Pejic came on for me and I think he had a great game.

"From a personal note it was horrendous having to go off injured but it would have been even worse if we had lost!

"The lads pulled out a performance and it was a great day in the end aside from my circumstances."

Roberts didn't complete the whole game - injury ruled him out of the remaining six league matches - but he had still played his part in one of the best day's in Wrexham's history.

"The injury was one of those things," said Roberts. "It was still a great day.

"Obviously taking home the trophy, that is in the history books now so I was chuffed to bits with it.

"Being on crutches like I was at the end of the day hampered your celebrations a bit but still great memories from the day.

"And we had a good evening to celebrate as well which was nice."

Manager Denis Smith admitted he never knew that Roberts could play the piano until celebrations were in full flow at the team hotel that night.

"It always helps when you have had a few beers!" said Roberts.

"There was a good crowd of us around the piano at one stage, I think we played the same two songs over and over again!

"I don't know what the other guests at the hotel were thinking but we had a good laugh."

Wrexham's run to the cup final came at a time the Reds were battling to avoid relegation from League One.

A 10 point deduction as punishment for entering administration after owner Alex Hamilton rejected a series of takeover bids saw Wrexham slip from mid-table to the drop zone, something Smith's side never recovered from.

But Roberts prefers to remember the trophy triumph rather than reflect on dropping into League Two.

"We shouldn't have been in that situation," said Roberts.

"That side of things has been well documented but we shouldn't have been where we were.

"That was a major disappointment but the LDV Vans Trophy was a highlight of that season.

"You have got to look on the bright side of things and that was one of the major bright sides at the time for the club."

Another relegation followed in 2008 and Wrexham currently find themselves at the wrong end of the National League table.

Roberts knows returning to the Football League doesn't get any easier with time but he hopes the Reds finally achieve their goal.

"Everybody local to the town who has had anything to do with the club would love to see them back where they belong," said Roberts.

"It is just not that easy these days with the standard of the league.

"It is so difficult to get out of there that it is a massive task for any team in that league.

"There is no doubt they can do it over the next few years or whatever but it is a case of getting out there on the pitch and getting the right results."