Badshot Lea are tenth in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South following a 1-0 win at home to struggling Balham on Saturday.

Captain Luis Hamblin scored the winner in the 21st minute, beating Balham’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Jack Roughton, before a crowd of 94 at Westfield Lane.

The Baggies were due to travel to Epsom & Ewell as the Herald went to press on Tuesday night. They go to Abbey Rangers on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

There have been lots of ins and outs at Badshot Lea as manager Adam New continues to shape his squad.

Archie Sheppard, a 6ft 6in tall 20-year-old centre-back, has been released and has since moved up a tier to Isthmian South Central side Horndean.

Released by Huddersfield Town at the end of last season, Sheppard came to Badshot Lea in the summer via a loan spell at Bury in the Northern Premier League West and a period as part of Hartley Wintney’s under-21 squad.

He played in Badshot Lea’s first five games and made a total of eight appearances, his last match coming at Knaphill on November 4.

Striker Moussa Traore arrived injured at Badshot Lea in September after a brief spell at Midhurst & Easebourne, having left Blackfield & Langley.

In November Blackfield & Langley changed managers and Traore moved back there to play in the Wessex Division One. He never played for Badshot Lea - he was an unused substitute at Guildford City and Epsom & Ewell.

Coming in on loan is 16-year-old Reading academy midfielder and right-back Kaden Allsopp, younger brother of former Badshot Lea favourite Kai Allsopp. He made his debut at Corinthian-Casuals on December 6.

Also joining Badshot Lea on loan, from Aldershot Town, is 17-year-old attacking midfielder and winger Kian Dugdale.

Callum Wiltshire, back on loan from Hartley Wintney, is likely to stay with Badshot Lea into the new year.

Nick Hester