Gordon Bartlett believes two 'controversial decisions' cost his side the chance of completing the league double over Sutton United on Saturday.
Goals from Darren Locke and Danny Spendlove, either side of Steve West's equaliser for the hosts, put Stones in the driving seat. However, Dean Palmer restored parity in the 76th minute, a goal Stones boss Bartlett believed was offside.
Sutton were then awarded a penalty late on after one of their forwards went to ground despite there being little contact, and substitute Adam Wilde made no mistake from the spot to make it 3-2 and keep Sutton's unbeaten home league record intact.
"I'm very disappointed," said Bartlett, whose side dropped two places to 12th. "We underachieved in the first half but came out for the second and dominated it. When we went 2-1 up there only looked like being one winner.
"Then a couple of controversial decisions went against us. Their second goal looked offside while the penalty was very harsh. But there is nothing we can do about it now. There have been a few occasions this year when things haven't gone our way but I believe they even themselves out over the season."
Bartlett admitted the visitors' dressing room was like a morgue after the game but has backed his troops to bounce back in the local derby against Harrow Borough at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday.       "The lads were very upset afterwards," he added. "But it shows how far we've come that we've gone to a place like Sutton and taken the game to them. They have a strong experienced side and will make the play-offs.
"But my players believe in what we have at the club at the moment and I expect a good response to the defeat on Saturday. I'm going into 2009 in a very positive manner."