Badshot Lea manager Gavin Smith was delighted to pick up three points as the Baggies returned to winning ways with a 4-2 victory at home to Guernsey in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday afternoon.

The Baggies took the lead in the tenth minute through Jonathan Sanchez’s close-range finish, but Matt Loaring equalised for the visitors on 20 minutes. The hosts regained the lead in the 28th minute when Kojo Kyei’s pass found Anuar Ceesay, who blasted the ball into the net.

Guernsey were reduced to ten men on 61 minutes when Tom Dodds was sent off, and the Baggies made their numerical advantage count in the 69th minute when Kareem Akinnibi beat the offside trap and found the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

The visitors pulled a goal back on 78 minutes through Charlton Gauvain, but Akinnibi sealed the three points when he smashed home in the 79th minute to make it 4-2.

The victory moved Badshot Lea up to ninth place in the Isthmian League South Central Division.

Smith admitted the three points were the most important thing after the Baggies had gone six league games without a win.

“We said to the players before the game that we needed three points,” said Smith.

“We’d drawn four of our past six, but we needed a win.

“We’d had a couple of good performances against Marlow and Metropolitan Police, but we needed three points.

“Draws are good – I don’t like losing – but if we swapped the draws for a couple of wins and a couple of defeats we would have more points.

“Guernsey were good and caused us some problems, and we perhaps had the rub of the green with some decisions.

“Decisions have gone against us in other games though, so we were due that.

“We took the lead from a set piece, which was good. It didn’t quite go to plan – but it still went in. Harry Cawdron was caught on the ball for the equaliser, but Anuar then found the top corner after a good ball from Kojo.

“I wasn’t that happy with Kareem, but then he got two goals – which is important.”

The Baggies were frustrated by the weather on Tuesday night, when their Velocity Cup fourth-round tie at home to Chipstead was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Next up for Badshot Lea is a trip to Ashford Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday afternoon (3pm).