Badshot Lea 3, CB Hounslow 1

BADSHOT Lea were looking to bounce back from the disappointing performance against Guildford City on Wednesday night - and they did so in style with a comfortable 3-1 win at home to CB Hounslow in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League.

Boss Keith Hills handed a first start to new signing Mac Ford and defender Liam Flanighan returned from injury in the heart of the defence.

And it was Badshot Lea who were quickest out of the traps as they played down the Krooner Park slope at their temporary home in Camberely in the first half.

The tempo was high and after only two minutes they were in front. Some excellent work by Darren Blake saw him break into the area and his left-footed cross found the head of Connor Blanchard and he made no mistake, heading powerfully past the goalkeeper.

And almost immediately Lea went 2-0 up. Excellent work by Liam Roberts on the right saw him beat his man and cross dangerously into the box, where a CB Hounslow defender tried to clear his lines but could only divert the ball into his own net.

Despite being 2-0 down, CB Hounslow still tried to play and were excellent in possession, but they failed to create any clearcut chances in the final third.

And despite their endeavour, CB Hounslow found themselves 3-0 down five minutes before half time. More good work by Roberts saw him find his way into the opposition box before a coming together with a CB Hounslow defender, who couldn’t get out of the way and left the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Blake converted the kick to put Badshot Lea out of sight.

Right on half time, the referee evened up the penalty count by awarding CB Hounslow a spot-kick which Roache duly dispatched.

Defending a two-goal lead, the second half was largely a non event.

Both sides created some half chances but the home side managed the game well and saw out time to record a good result against a team who started the morning in sixth place.

On Saturday, Badshot Lea take a break from league action when they play Cray Valley of the Southern Counties East League in the second round of the FA Vase at Krooner Park (kick-off 3pm).

Badshot Lea: Clement, Hutchings, Pound, Flanighan, Allen, Blake, Ford, Wright, Roberts, Blanchard, K Francis. Subs May, Thripp, Close, Chase.

* An Ashley Lloyd goal failed to stop Lea slipping to a 2-1 home defeat against Southall in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League on Tuesday night.