FRIMLEY GREEN 4, BADSHOT LEA 1

IT’S been a switchback ride in recent matches for Badshot Lea. Big wins either side of a 7-1 reversal at Worcester Park and now this setback at Frimley Green last Friday.

Frimley are a decent side and this result advanced them to sixth in the Combined Counties Division?One table, but no-one was expecting them to power into a 3-0 lead by the interval against the second-placed Baggies.

Yet this is what happened as Green caught the visitors cold on a slick surface at the Recreation Ground.

The hosts had already made a couple of half-chances when, from a corner, Matt Kellet-Smith put them in front with an acrobatic overhead effort into the bottom corner; 1-0 after 13 minutes.

Frimley dictated play in the opening quarter, but the Baggies gradually began to get a foothold on the game, albeit rarely testing debutant goalkeeper Chris Harris.

Then the Green counter-attacked to lethal effect and a skilful finish by George Bowerman doubled the lead on 26 minutes.

Badshot Lea upped their game, but the confident, fluid play that had taken them on a 13-game winning run before and after Christmas, was not there and, instead, Frimley added a killer third goal shortly before the break.

From well outside the area, Dan Bone struck a free-kick clean and true into the bottom right corner.

The Baggies’ followers were not impressed and if they expected a strong response in the second half, they were to be disappointed.

With just three minutes gone, Bone ran straight through the defence before arrowing his final shot high into the net.

In the 66th minute, Zac Hawker gave them a glimmer of home by providing a deft finish to a smart move on the left.

Further chances came during a good spell for the visitors, but the match finished on a sour note. A red card reduced them to 10 men and they missed a penalty in added time.