Ian Hendon was left to lament his luck following West Ham United's 1-0 development squad defeat at Charlton Athletic.
With the game still goalless after 28 minutes, Freddie Sears' rasping shot flicked off the head of defender Gary Doherty and hit the underside of the crossbar. The ball appeared to bounce over the line before being claimed by goalkeeper John Sullivan, but nothing was given by the officials.
The decision meant Charlton were able to snatch victory on Tuesday through substitute Morgan Fox with ten minutes remaining.
Hendon was disappointed that his players had been denied a deserved point, but praised their performance against a home side that also included ex-Hull City centre-back Leon Cort, former Reading midfielder Andy Hughes and former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Mikel Alonso.
"We were most definitely hard done-by because, from what we're told, Freddie's strike hit the crossbar and went over the line and came back out," he told whufc.com
"If we'd gone in 1-0 up at half-time I think we'd have been deservedly in the lead, but it wasn't to be.
"We have come away and lost 1-0 but we have acquitted ourselves very well against what was a very experienced Charlton team.
"I watched Charlton play earlier in the season in the Carling Cup and the majority of the lads we faced played in that game and beat a strong Reading team, so when you put the two sides into perspective, I was really pleased with the lads and their performance.
"On another day we might have had two or three goals ourselves."
Hendon was impressed with the performance of Republic of Ireland U19 international Eoin Wearen, who has recently switched position from central midfield to centre-back, as well as that of the ever-willing Sears up front.
"I thought Eoin put in a sterling performance and is really enjoying his role at the moment. He is really attacking the ball well and organised things well.
"Freddie has put in a shift and he did score one but it was disallowed and he came close on a couple of other occasions as well."