THREE days is a long time in football. If you ever doubted that then just ask Sevenoaks Town's Guy Smith.

On Saturday Smith was the villain. With Town seemingly in control of their FA Cup tie with Tunbridge Wells he was needlessly sent-off to give their local rivals a way back into the game.

Yet, in Tuesday night's replay the Town midfielder, given another chance to impress by his boss Simon Jones, was superb and capped a man-of-the-match performance with a stunning winning goal to give his team a first ever win over Tunbridge Wells.

"Guy phoned me on Saturday night and apologised for getting sent-off," Jones revealed. "I decided to put him in and he was the best player on the pitch. That goal was a tremendous finish. We had a lot of chances and I thought they would get a sucker punch at the end, but Guy came up the hero. That's the beauty of football."

And Jones added: "I felt we deserved the win and I'm really happy. We played positive, attractive football and matched them toe to toe when we had to.

"We created some good chances and in the second-half we could have had two or three more if I'm being honest.

"The club tells me this is the first time we have ever beaten them. The records might say something different, but we have certainly got a monkey off our back."

The 180 minutes of FA Cup action between these two rivals, over the past week, was a joy to watch and a real advert for local football.

Both sides made a change for Tuesday night's replay at Greatness Park.

Sean Funnel came into goal for Town, while Andy Boyle replaced Brad Sanderman in defence for Wells.

It was Martin Larkin's side that started the better and they duly took the lead on 13 minutes. Adrian Griffiths' hooked clearance fell to Mike Lord on the edge of the box and his lovely first time pass freed Andy McMatin. The Wells winger composed himself and fired in a lovely cross that was turned home by the unmarked Benji Agana.

Wells, buoyed by the goal, took control of the match. Agana had a big shout for a penalty and the striker was then brilliantly denied by Funnel.

At the other end Mikelle Czanner picked up where he left off on Saturday with another super save from Chris Walker.

In a cup tie that ebbed and flowed throughout, it took yet another twist on 25 minutes.

Wells' Jon Lord, trying to shepherd the ball back to Czanner, used his hand when under pressure from Joe Creasey. But, was he in the box or out of it? No-one was quite sure, other than the linesman that is, who gave the decision to Town much to Larkin's frustration.

Matt Foreman stepped up, but Czanner saved his spot kick. However, Walker fired home the rebound to bring the scores level once again.

Both sides had chances going into the break. For Wells the superb Matt Newman saw a shot whistle wide, while Town's Joe Minter and Foreman both went close.

Larkin must have had a few things to say to his players at the break as they came flying out of the changing rooms.

McMatin hit a brilliant volley which rattled the crossbar on 46 minutes and Newman saw a free-kick palmed away, as Wells had Town under the cosh.

Yet the game was to have one more decisive factor. Wells' big striker Agana was forced off the field with an apparent knee injury and the visitors rarely threatened after that, as Town once again took charge.

Walker, Foreman, Creasey and Smith all went close, and Alex Rich superbly headed off the Wells line.

Ten minutes from time Town got their winner. Bourne denied Creasey a clear goal scoring opportunity, but from the resulting corner Smith, steaming in at the far post, scored a wonderful volley to send Greatness Park into raptures.

There would be one last sub plot to this enthralling tie as Wells' Brad Draper and Jon Pilbeam both saw red in the dying minutes.

Yet Jones was unconcerned by this and more focussed on his team's own performance.

"For me, this is the best group of players I have ever had. They are more determined, eager to learn and play football than ever before. This is the best crop I've had and they will only get stronger. Football is rosy for the club at the moment, but then it is always is at any club in August."

Town travel to Greenwich Borough on Saturday.