BEDFONT SPTS 0, BADSHOT LEA 1

THIS win came as a great relief to Badshot Lea who, after their superb win at Hartley Wintney, slumped to a 4-0 defeat against Hanworth Villa last week.

The Baggies lost several players to injury in beating Combined Counties League leaders Hartley, but they were back for the trip to lowly Bedfont Sports.

Manager Ben Dillon put the win down to a near-perfect display by the back four, expertly marshalled by skipper Stuart Urquhart.

“We had a plan to press high up the pitch and it was our really solid defence that enabled us to do that,” said manager Ben Dillon.

“The injuries left us light last week and perhaps we were still wrapped up with beating Hartley Wintney and under-estimated Hanworth. But we were by far the better side today. We played three up front and Bedfont couldn’t cope.”

It was by no means easy at Bedfont. The pitch was heavy and small and the ball kept running out of play as Badshot Lea over-hit passes in the strong wind.

Bedfont were kept quiet by a disciplined defence and when they did get a genuine one-on-one chance in the first half, Pat Kinsella read the situation and made an important save.

The Baggies, in contrast, made and missed some decent openings and only 15 minutes remained when they finally made the breakthrough.

A good ball down the line from Ryan Stephens was picked up by Paul Coventry who was then challenged by centre-half Billy Jefferies. But the Bedfont skipper slipped in the action. Coventry nicked the ball back and with only the keeper to beat, slotted home coolly.

Once in front, the Baggies were never going to let it slip.

Badshot Lea: Kinsella; Urquhart, Maylen, Minton, New; Gonzales (Sommerby), Pilgrim (Palmer), Hawker; M Saunders, Stephens, Coventry.

Bedfont Sports manager Mick Snowden resigned after the defeat to Badshot Lea. But Bedfont bounced back with a 3-2 win over Chessington on Tuesday.