Simon Colbran feels Crowborough Athletic can count themselves seriously unlucky not to be in the hat for Monday’s third round FA Vase draw.
The new Crows joint-boss felt his side was more than a match for Tunbridge Wells and deserved to go through. He was also left bemoaning penalty decisions that went against his side, especially the trip on Wayne Clarke in the opening exchanges.
“It was a tough game, but I honestly think it was a smash and grab from Tunbridge Wells,” Colbran, who will be working alongside Sean Muggeridge said. “I thought, in the first half, they had one chance and they scored. We had an absolutely blatant penalty not given, there’s no doubt about it. Everyone in the ground could see it, even their players admitted it. The only person who did not see it was the referee. If we had gone 1-0 up early on, it could have been a completely different game.
“I thought we absolutely dominated the first half and in the second half we were pushing forward and they had a couple of chances, but nothing clear cut. I thought we thoroughly deserved to win, definitely not losing.”

Andy Irvine’s goal on 40 minutes was all the separated the two sides, as Wells won 1-0.
“Overall, we were the better team,” Colbran said. “Looking at the 90 minutes, without a doubt, we definitely deserved at least a draw, we deserved to win at the end of the day.”
It was Colbran’s first look at the Crows on this return to the club after five years away. Many of the current crop were youth players when Colbran was last in the dugout and he was impressed by their progression. He has high hopes for the future.
“I’m quite excited about it,” Colbran said. “I knew a few of the players when I was here before, but I haven’t seen them play for two or three years. I’m excited. They have got that passion and desire, there was not one of them who did not give 110 per cent out there. They’ve got ability as well. They are good on the ball, they like to play football the right way – the way me and Mugsy want them to play.
“Carra [Sam Carrington] was just coming through the youth team when I was here before, but he’s a quality player. He has improved massively. I was also really impressed with the two centre-halves. Jack Turner and Tom Boddy really impressed against their big number nine. He is a handful, but they dealt with him well. But everybody, I could keep naming names, did well. All over the park they gave their all.”