IN-form Badshot Lea came from behind to ease into the second round of the FA Vase at the expense of Andover Town.

Lea travelled down the A303 with a somewhat depleted squad with a number of absentees through suspension, injury and holiday commitments.

But they were hoping to keep their unbeaten run going in a national competition in which they haven’t enjoyed the best of luck over the last few seasons.

Andover Town, who now ply their trade in Division One of the Sydenhams Wessex League, having taken voluntary relegation at the end of last season but haven’t had a great start to the season.

The game started at a lively pace and the visitors struggled to adapt to a new formation.

And it was the home side who settled quicker and they looked to play the ball around, but whenever they chose to go long they caused the Badshot Lea defence a few problems.

Lea themselves were starting to settle, with all positive attacks going through the lively Josh Francis, but disaster struck on 14 minutes. A long ball over the top left a straight chase between the Andover forward and onrushing Badshot Lea goalkeeper and captain Jordan Clement, who bravely came out, won the ball but was injured in the challenge. He tried to carry on but had to be replaced by sub goalkeeper Tom Chase, with James Pilgrim taking over as captain. And on 34 minutes Chase was called into action and made an excellent save down to his left.

Two minutes later the deadlock was broken and Lea were behind. Andover played the ball into the box and Lea defender Craig Wright pulled the attacker to the floor, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty which was slotted home.

Going behind sparked the visitors into life and on 39 minutes they were level. After a great run down the right, Connor Blanchard put over a pinpoint cross which evaded all of the Andover defenders and Liam Roberts was at the back post to stroke it home.

This goal sparked a wave of possession for Badshot Lea and on the stroke of half time they were in front.

Some excellent work in the middle of the park involving James Pilgrim and Darren Blake resulted in an excellent through ball over the home defence. The home keeper looked favourite to reach the ball but Josh Francis got there ahead of him and lobbed the ball up and over into the empty net.

There was even time for the visitors to hit the woodwork twice in stoppage time. Blake received the ball in the middle of the park, spotted the keeper off of his line and chipped him, only for the goalkeeper to tip it into the bar for a corner. The resulting corner was taken by Francis and the ball landed at the feet of Jack May who turned and shot and hit the outside of the upright.

Lea started the second half the way they finished the first, on the front foot, as Francis won a corner on the left. He took the corner himself and May outjumped his marker to head into the net to give Badshot Lea a 3-1 lead.

On 62 minutes, new signing Asrick Samuels, signed from fellow Combined Counties side Knaphill, replaced Roberts.

By now Lea were enjoying their best spell of the game and were keeping the ball much better than earlier in the game.

Connor Close and Liam Flanighan were looking solid in defence and were keeping the home side quiet.

And on 76 minutes Lea put the tie to bed. An excellent run by May saw him advance into the opposition box, only to be brought down when he was about to shoot. Pilgrim dispatched the penalty with some style as Lea eased into round two.

Not the best performance and Keith Hill’s men will definitely have tougher opponents ahead, but it’s another win and it keeps the decent unbeaten run going.

Badshot Lea: Clement (Chase 14), Wright, Pound, Blake, Flanighan, Close, Francis, Pilgrim, Blanchard, May, Roberts (Samuels 62).

n Badshot Lea were beaten 1-0 at Fleet Town in the Aldershot Senior Cup on Tuesday night.