Badshot Lea 2, Raynes Park Vale 1

TWO goals in the last seven minutes earned battling Badshot Lea a third straight win in the Premier Division of the Combined Conties League at Krooner Park on Saturday.

Trailing to a deflected first-half goal against lowly Raynes Park Vale, Lea completed a stunning turnaround with goals from Mac Ford (83) and Reece Connolly (87).

Ford kept his head to smash the ball home through a crowd of players after a goalmouth scramble to drag Lea back into the game before Reece Connolly converted substitute Ryan Bell’s exquisite cross from the right four minutes later to complete the smash-and-grab raid.

“We camped in their half in the second half and deserved the win in the end,” said Lea boss Gavin Smith who, alongside assistant manager Dave Ford, still boasts a 100 per cent record since taking over the reins after Christmas.

“When we came in at half time I told the players that they just needed to relax. I told them that there were still 45 minutes to go and that it only takes a second to score a goal.

“They (Raynes Park) sat back because of where they are in the league and just tried to defend and catch us on the break.”

And it looked for a long time like Vale’s tactic may prove spot on as they defended a 37th-minute lead which was gifted to them via a looping deflection.

But Lea are made of stern stuff these days and lay siege to the Vale goal for the final half, with several substitutions proving key.

“The 11 lads that went out to start the second half put the pressure on to start with but we weren’t breaking through,” said Smith, “so we made a couple of positive changes and in the end our persistence thankfully paid off. It was about being determined to get the points.”

One of the substitutes was Bell, whose pinpoint cross teasingly fell between the Vale goalkeeper and centre half to allow Connolly to steal in ahead of the keeper and slot home what turned out to be the winner.

“Ryan Bell put in a great cross. He’s got that bit of quality and the the ball in for the goal was superb. The lads who came on made a difference, the changes worked for us,” admitted Smith.

After a desperate run which saw Lea drop into the bottom two of the Premier Division, wins against Cobham, Southall and Raynes Park Vale have lifted Lea up to 13th place in the league, only two points off eighth spot.

But Smith, who welcomed Harry Cooksley on a short-term deal from Farnborough in time for Saturday’s game and was impressed with his composure on the ball, remained pragmatic about his side’s progress.

“It’s looking a lot better but I just know what this league is like,” he said. “We’ve jst got to take each game as it comes and try to focus on those games and win each one.

“Teams will always put a little run together and all of a sudden if you lose one and a couple of teams win it can look very different, but we’re pleased because it’s always nicer to look at the table when you’re a bit further up there.”

The tide certainly seems to be changing for Lea, who will move into their new ground in Wrecclesham next season, with Smith and Ford having tweaked the squad.

Gavin Brainch and Jimmy Norman have left the club while Connor Blanchard and Kai Francis have joined Premier Division rivals Knaphill, who lie just two points ahead of the Baggies.

In have come Connolly, Jack May and Cooksley, who has had spells at AFC Wimbledon, Aldershot Town and Real Mallorca.

On Saturday, hunting up a fourth straight win, Lea travel to Ashford in Middlesex to face Spelthorne Sports, who are level on points with Lea in 11th place.

“Spelthorne will be a tough one but if we beat them we will go above them with a game in hand. It’s another game we’d like to win but they will be difficlt opposition,” said Smith.

Badshot Lea: Clement, Pound, Roberts, Flanighan, Bonsu, Close, Blake, Pilgrim, Connolly, Ford, Thripp. Subs: Atkinson, Blackie, Cooksley, Bell, May.