Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett felt his side deserved better after being beaten in injury time by Conference South leaders Basingstoke Town.

The Stones were more than a match for their opponents at Grosvenor Vale and appeared to be heading for a hard-earned point until a 93rd minute goal fired Town to a 1-0 win on Saturday.

Bartlett said: “Everyone could tell there had been a bit of an injustice but you don’t always get what you deserve in football.

“I am gutted and that really hurt. We gave away possession right at the death and gave them a free header.

“But there were massive positives from the game. Basingstoke are top the league and we edged the game and a point was the least we deserved so I have to be bitterly disappointed.

“When you are at the bottom you don’t get the rub of the green. I felt that we were better than them and we were definitely unlucky not to get something out of the game.”

Wealdstone almost grabbed a first minute lead but Joe Turner was denied by a save from keeper Stuart Moore.

The Stones were reliant on Tom Hamblin blocking a goalbound shot from firing Basingtoke into the lead.

Scott McGleish went close in the first half on a couple of occasions but the sides turned around with the match goalless.

A risky back pass from Sean Cronin put the hosts in trouble but Jonathan North managed to make a vital save.

Turner had another opportunity but his header was kept out by Moore.

It looked as if Wealdstone were poised to earn a decent result from their league match but they were hit by a 93rd minute suckerpunch when David Ray headed home for the visitors.

The defeat leaves Bartlett’s side third bottom in the table with two wins from their opening 14 matches.

Wealdstone strengthened their squad this week by signing midfielder Matt Ball from Farnborough for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old started off as a youngster for Norwich and is a Northern Ireland Under-21 international. Ball moved to Stevenage before joining Farnbrough and scored twice against the Stones this season.

Bartlett said: “He is a creative midfield player and since the loss of Glen Little we have not created enough.

“Hopefully Matt can create things for us and get his fair share of goals. We’re trying to make the squad better and that’s what we have done.”

Ball is likely to make his debut in this weekend’s Middlesex Senior Cup tie at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough.