JAMES Constable struggled to describe the disappointment as he was left to reflect on the fine margins in Oxford United’s painful defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge.

The only goal of the game arrived via a breathtakingly unlucky goal in the 89th minute.

A back-tracking Matt Bevans was in just the wrong place to divert the ball into the net from 20 yards after Michael Raynes had blocked Luke Howell’s shot.

It was harsh on the visitors and Constable in particular felt the pain of defeat after chances fell his way either side of the goal.

“It’s hard to sum that up,” he said.

“On the balance of it I thought we were the better side for most of the 90 minutes and it’s just absolutely devastating to concede like that.

“You probably won’t see a goal like that again for many seasons to come.

“The luck they had is probably something we haven’t had of late and we’ve come away with nothing.

“We are bitterly disappointed after the way we’ve played.

“Everyone was up for the game and desperate to get the three points and we haven’t managed to do that.

“For large periods we were comfortable and showed some glimpses of what we could do.

“We’ve had some decent opportunities and really should have put a couple away to win the game.”

Constable was left out of the starting line-up, but gave United more of an edge up front after coming on for the final 18 minutes.

He quickly fashioned a shooting chance, which was the visitors’ only shot on target all afternoon, forcing goalkeeper Chris Lewington to save with his feet.

Constable said: “It’s one of those occasions when in another game it might have bounced over his legs and gone in.”

United’s top scorer also had an opportunity to claim an equaliser in stoppage time, but the shot flew wide.

He said: “It’s the way it’s going at the minute.

“With those ones where you spin, it can hit the post and go in.

“Then we’d be talking about a great performance and a great away win.

“But on the other hand we’ve not picked up anything.”