Zeiko Lewis says he and his Charleston Battery team-mates are determined to “come back stronger” next season.

Charleston’s 2020 campaign and bid for a fifth USL Championship came to a grinding halt after losing 1-0 away to home side Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Eastern Conference semi-final at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday.

Substitute Lucky Mkosana came off the bench to head home the 79th-minute winner from Zach Steinberger’s free kick and send Tampa Bay through to the final for the first time since joining the league four years ago.

“Disappointing that we were not able to finish the season off on a high note,” Lewis told The Royal Gazette.

“Losing in the semi-final will leave a bitter taste for us, but it will fuel us for next season. Next season we expect to come back stronger and better than we did this season. “

Mike Anhaeuser, the Charleston coach, added: “At 0-0, you knew it’d be a free kick, special goal or a mistake. And, unfortunately, that was the difference.”

Charleston finished second in group H during the regular season, three points behind group winners Tampa, who secured home-field advantage in the play-offs.

Tampa completed their 16 matches of the regular season while Charleston played 15.

Lewis and his team-mates were due to play Loudoun United FC in their final game of the regular season, but the rest of the season was cancelled because of multiple positive Covid-19 cases within the Loudoun organisation and no room for rescheduling before the play-offs.

This resulted in league officials applying the points-per-game model voted on by the USL Championship Board of Governors to determine final group standings and home advantage for play-off games.

“This was a very trying season battling Covid regulations on and off the field,” Lewis said.

“There were many ups and downs this season. But overall a good campaign in terms of performance and regular-season games. “

The Bermuda forward was Charleston’s leading scorer during the regular season with six goals in 15 appearances. He also had two assists.

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“I think I had a better season than I did last year,” Lewis said. “My confidence has grown and that has helped me to build on my performances game after game.”