BADSHOT LEA 2, WINDSOR 1

BADSHOT Lea hope this result will kick-start the rest of their Combined Counties League season as they fight to pull away from the wrong end of the table.

Substitute Darren Blake scored the winner deep into extra tim, but the Baggies deserved the three points against ninth-placed Windsor.

“It’s been a bit stop-start since Christmas and we were glad to get the game on,” said manager Ben Dillon who has been frustrated by the recent lack of action. “Windsor are a good side and I hope we can push on now.”

On a heavy surface at Shawfield Road, the Baggies made the perfect start – scoring a goal timed at 43 seconds.

Mason Saunders broke down the right and then Ryan Stephens provided an excellent cross for Andy New to volley in at the back post with his trusty left foot.

This spurred Badshot Lea into some flowing football and they felt they should have had a penalty on 20 minutes when Stephens tried a cheeky chip over his marker who certainly seemed to handle the ball.

But the referee waved play on and the Baggies, for all their good play, had to be satisfied with a one-goal lead at the interval.

The home side again began brightly in the second half and Carl Saunders forced a fine save from Carl Dennison in the Windsor goal.

But then Windsor got a foothold on the game and it was their turn to carve out some good opportunities. Pat Kinsella twice made vital saves to preserve the lead and with Badshot Lea generally defending well, the early goal looked likely to settle a tight match.

But there was drama to come in the last ten minutes. First, Windsor put together a fluid move down the right. A crisp one-two sliced open the Lea rearguard and Stephane Deed finished clinically for the equaliser.

A draw would have been a decent result, but Badshot Lea went for the win and got their reward in the sixth minute of added time.

A swift raid down the left ended with Craig Barker’s hard shot being well blocked by Dennison, but Blake was there to sweep home the loose ball.

Badshot Lea: Kinsella; Pound, Maylen, Urquhart, Hobden; M Saunders, New, Pilgrim, C Barker; Stephens, C Saunders. Subs (used): Blake, Palmer.

Badshot Lea’s Surrey Senior Cup third-round tie against Merstham was postponed for a second time on Tuesday. This Saturday, the Baggies visit Redhill who are second from bottom in the Premier Division.