Lingfield paid the price for missing a host of chances as the hosts proved more clinical, with two goals from former East Grinstead Town and Redhill striker Gavin Gordon helping the Crows to a 4-0 win at Alderbrook.

Chris Ransome and Jason Barton were also on target for Crowborough, but Dean said that, in his opinion, the scoreline did not reflect the overall game.

"We didn't deserve to lose 4-0," said Dean. "We just couldn't score a goal and we didn't get the rub of the green.

"I honestly felt we were the better team – we played the better football but we just couldn't score.

"A few decisions went against us too and their second goal was so far offside it was untrue."

But Dean said that he was proud of his side's efforts, adding that he felt they continued to play football, despite the scoreline.

"We took the game to them in the second half," he said.

"The scoreline looks like they battered us, but it was nothing like that.

"They scored twice when we were chasing the game, but credit to the players because they were still running and chasing everything right at the end."

Once again, Dean fielded a mixture of young and old, with Daryl Coleman returning to Lingfield for a one-off game, having left the club earlier this season.

He partnered 16-year-old Harry Boultwood in the centre of midfield, while Dean also fielded four more players under the age of 18, including goalkeeper Scott Miller and Sammy Clements.

But his side struggled early on as Chris Ransome gave the Crows the lead with a bullet header off the underside of the bar, and it probably should have been two as Michael Death and Ransome both spurned good chances.

Lingfield could and should have levelled just after the half-hour mark though, as Joel O'Hara headed wide from Richard Wetton's right-wing cross.

And the Crows made them pay six minutes later as returning hero Gordon broke the offside trap to latch onto a long ball and round Lingfield goalkeeper Scott Miller just before the break.

Crowborough captain Jason Barton made it 3-0 ten minutes after the break, meeting Scott Taylor's inswinging free-kick to head home and virtually seal victory.

A second goal for Gordon added some gloss to the scoreline six minutes later, with the former Redhill and East Grinstead Town striker chipping Miller from just outside the box after being played through by his strike partner Michael Death.

Both sides continued to have chances as the game wore on, but neither side was able to find the net as Crowborough ran out comfortable winners.

The result left Lingfield in tenth in the Sussex County League Division One table.

Their clash with Worthing United on Tuesday was postponed due to a burst water main.

Read more: http://www.eastgrinsteadcourier.co.uk/didn-t-deserve-4-0-hiding-says-Dean/story-20484916-detail/story.html#ixzz2rDEhnwwG