Wealdstone's Alex Dyer admitted they were bitterly disappointed to lose at Gateshead in midweek.

Having claimed a point from a 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic on Saturday, Stones saw Jed Ward deny the hosts with some fine saves in the North East.

And the visitors took a 72nd-minute lead when Tarryn Allarakhia netted, only for Connor McBride to level just four minutes later and then clinch a 2-1 win with a 25-yard effort.

"We're bitterly disappointed with the result," Dyer told the club social media.

"They're probably one of the best teams in the league I would say, who we've played so far.

"Playing at their ground is tough, they keep the ball well, they move it well, they really test you in all areas and I thought we really stood up to the test.

"Jed had moments where he kept us in the game, which is what he's good at and what helped us a lot.

"We were dangerous when we had spells, we got counters and scored a goal at a good time but just small moments and margins and they were clinical when they needed to be.

"The boys, to a man, put everything into it."

Ward denied Greg Olley, Marcus Dinanga and McBride with a string of first-half saves, while Dyer saw a low shot kept out by Archie Mair after the restart.

Micah Obiero glanced an Allarakhia cross wide, before bursting forward to tee up the substitute for the opener.

But McBride's late brace sent Stones on their long journey back to London empty-handed.

"We are who we are, we're part-time and we're fighting that battle every week, but we never use that as an excuse to our performances and results," added Dyer.

"That's a credit to ourselves and the professionalism of the group. It's hard when you travel as far as we do and to have football and work to balance is tough, but we put everything in and sometimes in football the margins don't go your way.

"The bottom line is they're a good side and they were clinical when they needed to be.

"It's gutting when you score the first goal, fairly late on, it's horrible not to come out with anything.

"When you factor in, Tuesday night, it's a tough game, the crowd get behind them, to come away with a point would've been great.

"We can manage games better, sometimes you've got to hold your hands up.

They had quite a few chances, Jed has made some good saves for us, but when it mattered they put the ball in the back of the net."

Stones are back on the road on Saturday as they travel to Kidderminster and Dyer believes they will start to get their due rewards.

"Between the boxes, we're one of the top sides in the league in my opinion," he said.

"Results are based on what you do in both boxes. What matters are those moments where you can get that last-minute block or hit the corner rather than missing the target.

"Saturday we had a lot of shots but only a couple on target. That's where the differences are made and if we want to take ourselves to the next level they're the things we need to focus on.

"We're in a good place, we're confident, the staff give us a good gameplan for every game, we have full faith in everyone.

"We made four or five changes to the team to freshen up and everyone came in and did the job they were scheduled to so.

"We've got full faith in our squad and the management team and club and know that over a long period of time,

"when your performances are as well-rounded as ours are, the results will start to swing in our favour."