MATT Clarke felt it was a travesty his Redditch United side came away empty-handed following a narrow 2-1 defeat at title-chasing AFC Telford United.
A brace from Matty Stenson put Telford in command before Jack Kelly scored directly form a corner to halve the deficit at New Bucks Head.
The result means Redditch sit 13th in the Southern League Premier Central table.
Despite the defeat, Clarke heaped praise on his players for pushing the title challengers all the way.
Clarke said: “My keeper has not made a save, I don’t know how many chances we had, we put absolutely everything out there, the boys were outstanding.
“We had a right go, up until the first goal we were in complete control of the game.
“We were unlucky, it was a travesty that we didn’t get anything out of the game.
“I’m proud of the performance, it’s fine lines in football, we should have got something out of the game against a team who are expected to win the league.
“We were the better team, if we play like that we’ll win games of football. That’s the best we’ve played for a few weeks.”
The Reds made a bright start as Ryan Boothe fired wide of the target from a tight angle inside the penalty area.
And the visitors felt they should have had a penalty soon after when Telford’s Orrin Pendley appeared to push Nick Clayton-Phillips in the back as the latter challenged for a header in the box.
United remained on top as Brandon Hall comfortably held Josh Esen’s low effort from distance.
However, Telford broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when Stenson headed Ellis Myles-Tebbutt’s cross from the right into the net via the aid of the post.
The Reds searched for an equaliser after the break as Hall pushed Clayton-Phillips’ free-kick from 30-yards out to safety.
However, Telford doubled their lead on 53 minutes as Stenson headed home former Reds captain Jordan Cranston’s corner from the right.
Redditch caused Telford problems with a corner of their own later in the half as Hall tipped Kelly’s set-piece to safety.
And a Telford player then headed Esen’s corner from the opposite side off the line.
Redditch somehow failed to score soon after as Cranston headed substitute Dylan Thomas’s effort off the line before Anthony Dwyer smashed the follow-up against the crossbar from close range.
At the other end, Telford threaten to seal the points on the counter attack as Stenson’s cross from the left hit the crossbar.
However, the Reds deservedly halved the deficit on 70 minutes when Kelly’s corner from the right evaded everybody in the box and found the bottom left corner.
United almost drew level at Hall denied Dwyer in the box before George Burroughs headed a corner over the bar at the death from close range.
Redditch are next in action against Spalding United on Saturday, February 22 with kick-off at 3pm at the Sir Halley Stewart Field.
