Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin was a proud man despite seeing his team come off second best on Saturday.

He saw his Kent League team level the scores against Spennymoor at Wembley but they concede a second just two minutes later. It proved to be the winning goal.

Wells were trailing by just one goal and lucky to be still in the game but they improved after the turnaround.

Larkin said: “At half time we said if we carried on playing the way we were we wouldn’t have got anything from the game.

“It was a case of needing to be braver and getting on the ball in the second half and we did that.

“At certain times we caused them problems but they were very good from start to finish.

“We really grew into the game in the second half and scored a deserved goal.”

Josh Stanford was the man to score Wells’ goal, with 12 minutes left. But Spennymoor’s Keith Graydon then smashed home what turned out to be the winner.

“Our goal was a deserved goal, it wasn’t necessarily beautiful, but it was deserved after the way we defended as a team and stayed in the game and put the balls into the box into good areas.

“The noise when the goal went in is something I will never forget. It was a wonderful noise and a good day all round. I was proud of them and we knew we were up against it because they are an unbelievable side at this level. We were completely honest about it and they deserved to win the game.”

Larkin’s side were always up against it, facing a team who on paper were far superior. And he conceded that his side were a level below the Vase winners.

He said: “They are the best team at this level and the only reason they haven’t won their league is because Darlington have come down from the Conference.

“That would have been four titles in a row and now they have the Vase victory.

“They are a wonderful club at this level, fantastic, and really good guys as well. We had to be at our very, very best to beat them. We were almost there to go and compete but just not quite good enough.”