PAUL Tisdale says Exeter City deserved their 1-0 win over Chalrton Athletic on Saturday — although he conceded the nature of the win was hard on the Addicks.

The Grecians bagged the three points courtesy of the late penalty they were awarded when Jamie Cureton tumbled under the challenge of Miguel Llera in injury time.

Ryan Harley stepped up to convert the spot-kick and ensure City recorded their first npower League One win of the 2010/11 campaign.

But boss Tisdale admitted he felt for opposite number Phil Parkinson and his side.

The St James's Park chief said: "I can't argue that it (the penalty) was a little dubious, but we would have been disappointed if it had gone against us.

"I don't disagree with Phil that it was maybe a tough one on them, but Ryan Harley still had to score it and he did that supremely well.

"I know that was a contentious and hugely important decision, but if we stand back and look at the bigger picture we deserved the win.

"Whether we got that or not we deserved to get it. We had the flow of the game and, when you play with intention and conviction, sometimes these things go for you."

Goalscorer Harley was less sympathetic than his manager in admitting he was not interested whether or not it was a bona fide penalty — he was just pleased to have struck the winner.

The midfielder echoed his boss' words that he felt the Grecians deserved to take three points from a side who are expected to challenge for promotion this term.

And the former Bristol City trainee was full of praise for striker Jamie Cureton and the part he played in City's victory. Harley said: "It really looked like it was a penalty — you need those bits of luck and we don't get loads of it.

"I made my mind up about what I was going to do with it and I was pleased it went in. We deserved the win because everyone was brilliant.

"Jamie is a clever player, he's had a good career and to attract someone like that to the club shows where we are going. He was brilliant when he came on.

"When I first came here just over two years ago we were in the Conference. Looking at where we are now, I think we are 60 or 70 per cent better than we were then."

Addicks chief Parkinson admitted he thought Llera got a toe to the ball before Cureton fell in the box at the crucial moment.

But The Valley boss admitted he could not lay too much blame at referee David Phillips' door, because his side should have defended Richard Logan's hopeful ball forward better in the first place.

Parkinson said: "We lost our concentration and shouldn't have got done in that situation. We didn't play great, so if we had come away with a 0-0 we would have been happy, but I thought the ref couldn't wait to give the penalty.

"I'm disappointed with the decision but I'm not going to blame the ref because we should have dealt with the ball over the top in the first place.

"I don't think the ref was sure it was a penalty and if you're not sure you can't give it and that's why he didn't give a red card.

"Until I see it again I can't be 100 per cent sure myself, but my gut feeling is that it wasn't a penalty and that the ref has been swayed by the crowd."