Badshot Lea’s proud unbeaten record in the Combined Counties Premier Division South came to an end when they were beaten by Jersey Bulls in Tuesday night.

The Baggies won their opening eight games of the season - and were one of the last non-league clubs in the country to lose a 100 per cent league record when they were held to a 3-3 draw at Cobham last weekend.

And then they tasted defeat in the league for the first time this season when the highly-rated Bulls won 2-0 at Westfield Lane.

It was a match of high quality between two clubs not used to losing - and both sides are predicted to finish the season pushing for honours.

Baggies co-manager Gavin Smith has been unhappy with some of his side’s performances this season even when they have won - yet had no complaints.

"That was a real test - but we knew it would be," he said. "I don’t feel disappointed with my group - I felt we competed well.

"Jersey will be at the top of our league at the end of the season and for large periods of the game we matched them, and I felt we could have got something if we could have got a goal - and we had a lot of half-chances.

"Something’s not happening for us at the minute - in the past three games we have got ourselves into good positions but the final ball is letting us down, and we don’t seem to have that killer instinct.

"Yes, they could have had a couple of goals in the first half, but we could have scored a couple, too.

"When you play teams like Jersey and those in Step 4, if you make a mistake they punish you - and we needed to take our chances when we had them.

"We didn’t and then we switched off and they scored."

The Baggies’ hopes of getting back into the game ended when Nick Medcraft was shown a second yellow card for diving in the box - although it seemed a harsh decision.

Smith said: "Nick is adamant the player caught him but the referee is saying because he went down and then appealed he’s looking to get a penalty so deserved a yellow card.

"That was harsh - if that had happened anywhere else on the pitch, no-one is getting booked and everyone is getting on with the game.

"We’ll look at the video - the referee is adamant he dived and Nick is adamant he got clipped.

"We were always going to lose at some point and I’d rather lose to a team who are that good and professional. They’re well coached and well prepared.

"Our desire to get back into it when we went down to ten men was superb. I don’t like losing but there’s a way to lose and we matched them for long periods - and we’re a young group.

"In the second half they started pressing us a bit higher up the pitch and we weren’t as good as the first half - we struggled to get out. But it was a match between two teams who are not used to losing - and it shows we can compete with the teams at the top."

The Baggies now aim to start another long unbeaten run when they entertain Raynes Park Vale on Saturday (3pm).

But Smith is expecting another tough battle. "They’re much improved since we played them last and they look lively - they’re another side will be up there at the end of the season."

But he’s happy with the progress his side are making. "Before the season started, we’d have taken where we are now, for sure.

"I even look back at the year that was cut short, when we played 14, won ten, drew one and lost three. So in all that’s 18 wins with only four defeats - that’s good going. We’re going in the right direction and we have enough to stay in and around the mix. There’s a long way to go."

Farnham Town can gauge their progress next Tuesday when they entertain Jersey Bulls at the Memorial Ground (7.45pm).

FOOTBALL * Page 55

The Baggies won their opening eight games of the season - and were one of the last non-league clubs in the country to lose a 100 per cent league record when they were held to a 3-3 draw at Cobham last weekend.

And then they tasted defeat in the league for the first time this season when the highly-rated Bulls won 2-0 at Westfield Lane.

It was a match of high quality between two clubs not used to losing - and both sides are predicted to finish the season pushing for honours.

Baggies co-manager Gavin Smith has been unhappy with some of his side’s performances this season even when they have won - yet had no complaints.

"That was a real test - but we knew it would be," he said. "I don’t feel disappointed with my group - I felt we competed well.

"Jersey will be at the top of our league at the end of the season and for large periods of the game we matched them, and I felt we could have got something if we could have got a goal - and we had a lot of half-chances.

"Something’s not happening for us at the minute - in the past three games we have got ourselves into good positions but the final ball is letting us down, and we don’t seem to have that killer instinct.

"Yes, they could have had a couple of goals in the first half, but we could have scored a couple, too.

"When you play teams like Jersey and those in Step 4, if you make a mistake they punish you - and we needed to take our chances when we had them.

"We didn’t and then we switched off and they scored."

The Baggies’ hopes of getting back into the game ended when Nick Medcraft was shown a second yellow card for diving in the box - although it seemed a harsh decision.

Smith said: "Nick is adamant the player caught him but the referee is saying because he went down and then appealed he’s looking to get a penalty so deserved a yellow card.

"That was harsh - if that had happened anywhere else on the pitch, no-one is getting booked and everyone is getting on with the game.

"We’ll look at the video - the referee is adamant he dived and Nick is adamant he got clipped.

"We were always going to lose at some point and I’d rather lose to a team who are that good and professional. They’re well coached and well prepared.

"Our desire to get back into it when we went down to ten men was superb. I don’t like losing but there’s a way to lose and we matched them for long periods - and we’re a young group.

"In the second half they started pressing us a bit higher up the pitch and we weren’t as good as the first half - we struggled to get out. But it was a match between two teams who are not used to losing - and it shows we can compete with the teams at the top."

The Baggies now aim to start another long unbeaten run when they entertain Raynes Park Vale on Saturday (3pm).

But Smith is expecting another tough battle. "They’re much improved since we played them last and they look lively - they’re another side will be up there at the end of the season."

But he’s happy with the progress his side are making. "Before the season started, we’d have taken where we are now, for sure.

"I even look back at the year that was cut short, when we played 14, won ten, drew one and lost three. So in all that’s 18 wins with only four defeats - that’s good going. We’re going in the right direction and we have enough to stay in and around the mix. There’s a long way to go."

Farnham Town can gauge their progress next Tuesday when they entertain Jersey Bulls at the Memorial Ground (7.45pm).