FORMER Chelsea youth team player Malakai Mars scored twice on his debut as Badshot Lea came from behind to stun Abbey Rangers 3-2 at a rain-soaked Addlestone Moor on Saturday.
Mars coolly slotted home a first-half equaliser after latching onto a poor back pass to cancel out Charlie Postance’s opener for the home side, but Lea found themselves behind again when Sheridan Campbell headed home Elliott Firth’s pinpoint cross on 56 minutes.
Lea keeper Kallum Lunn then kept his side in the game with a point-blank save from Rangers substitute Bishop before two goals in four minutes turned the game on its head and earned Lea their first win in four games.
First, Mars sent the Rangers goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot on 78 minutes after the roving Darren Blake had been felled in the area, then the roles were reversed on 82 minutes as Blake steered a header into the corner of the net after a delightful chip back into the box from Mars on the right.
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The win moves Lea up to ninth place in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League ahead of a trip to Egham Town on Tuesday night.
Farnham Town’s bid to stretch their unbeaten run in Division One to ten games and keep in touch with runaway leaders Jersey Bulls was derailed by heavy rain, with their scheduled game away at bottom side Eversley & California postponed an hour before kick-off.
Pacesetters Alresford Town extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division of the Sydenhams Wessex League to eight points with a thumping 6-2 win over lowly Solent University at Arlebury Park.
Goals from Sam Doswell and Duarte Martins put the Magpies in control but the students stunned the home faithful by drawing level by half-time.
But Alresford weren’t to be denied and pulled away in the second half courtesy of goals from Lukas McCartney, Steve Hall, Craig McAllister and Mike Gosney.
In Division One, goals in the last five minutes from Phil Moore and Liam Knight earned Alton Town a dramatic 2-1 win over US Portsmouth at The Enclosure to end a four-game winless streak in the league which moves the Brewers up to fifth in the table.