Altrincham boss Neil Gibson said Carlisle United's "lot of money" investment in Micah Obiero was the difference in his side's defeat to the Blues.
Gibson felt Altrincham were “full value for a point” in Saturday's clash.
But the hosts could not hold off United’s late salvo as the Blues won 4-2 at the J.Davidson Stadium.
And Gibson said the quality shown by sub Obiero in scoring United's third goal was telling.
“At 2-2 I thought we probably deserved to take at least a point from it, but the game got away from us at the end," he said.
“Unfortunately it didn’t get away from us from them dominating us, but from a good moment from their substitute, who I’ve managed before – Micah Obiero – that they’ve paid a lot of money for."
Gibson felt his injury-hit team gave as good as they got in an entertaining clash with the Cumbrians.
“I’m really disappointed for the players and everyone associated with the football club,” added Gibson in a club interview.
“I think it was an excellent advertisement for National League football. Two good teams going at each other.
“I thought our players who took to the field were absolutely fantastic. I’m pleased and proud of what they did and feel really disappointed for the players, the staff and supporters.”
Gibson said his squad was so depleted that he named three substitutes who were not fit to play.
He also said he was one more injury away from asking player/goalkeeping coach Andy Firth to come on in an outfield role.
“The [fans] were first class today, they understood the agenda, what we were faced with, the injuries we had,” said Gibson, whose seventh-placed side lost at home for only the second time this season.
“The XI that took the field would have to play a large part of the game.
“Being honest, Charlie Kirk, Kahrel Reddin and Kristian Dennis were named on the bench but were never going to be able to come on.
“We didn’t want to give Carlisle, when the teams went in at 2pm, the opportunity of knowing we had only 13 fit players. We wanted them to think we might be able to make those substitutions.
“I thought we played really well. We coped a large amount with the excellent forward players Carlisle have at their disposal.
“My job is to protect the club and its heritage. When we had an opportunity to win the game and be one point away from third, when Lewis Banks gets injured I don’t want to put Andy Firth on up front. That was what we were faced with – the next step if we made one more substitution.
“I don’t want to make a mockery of where we’re at.
“We came that close. Micah’s goal was the difference but I thought we were full value for a point.”
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