Badshot Lea manager Gavin Smith was delighted with his side’s first-half performance after they beat Chipstead 4-2 at Westfield Lane on Saturday in the Isthmian League South Central Division.
The Baggies took the lead on nine minutes when Adam New swept home from a corner, and Lamin Ceesay tapped home on 37 minutes to make it 2-0 after good trickery from Kai Allsopp.
The visitors got themselves back in the game in the second half and pulled a goal back through Bradley Wilson’s header on 61 minutes.
Chipstead then equalised on 66 minutes when Dan Berry’s shot found the back of the net.
The Baggies regained the lead on 71 minutes through Anaur Ceesay’s neat finish, and Cameron Rohart-Brown slotted home on 89 minutes to wrap up the three points.
Smith was particularly pleased with his side’s display in the opening 45 minutes.
“We dominated them in the first half,” said Smith.
“We need to be wary of teams improving in the second half. I think they adjusted really well in the second half to be fair to them – they made good decisions, good changes to what they wanted to do and put us under a lot of pressure.
“They deserved to be back in the game if I’m honest. I thought they were going to go on – because they were well on top in the game.
“We’ve scored four goals so it’s gone well for us, but it could easily have gone the other way – and that’s the difference in the levels.
“From our point of view it’s great to get the three points.
“It doesn’t matter how it happens. We’re pleased with the first half. The second half we’ve got to learn from. But that’s down to us as a management team making changes with certain things.
“In terms of what we wanted to do the first half was perfect.
“Kai showed a great bit of quality for the second goal. He shows that in abundance in training and he’s growing into the side. The lads love him – we want to see him expressing himself and getting on the ball and doing those things.”
“It’s nice, because you want to win your home games,” said Smith. “Nothing is easy in this league, which is good.
“You’re going to get tested every game.”
Saturday’s victory followed up an impressive 1-0 win at Hartley Wintney in the Isthmian League South Central Division last Tuesday night (October 10).
Kane Fitzgerald was sent off in the second half, but Lamin Ceesay poked home to give the ten-man Baggies the win.
Next up for the Baggies is a trip to high-flying Leatherhead in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday (3pm), and Smith is looking forward to the test.
“It’s a brilliant game for us,” said Smith.
“Leatherhead are where they are for a reason. They’re probably one of the big hitters in the league, but we’ve got momentum going into it.
“We want to go there full of confidence. For us it’s a game to go and play with no real pressure – apart from what we put on ourselves, which will be we want to win the game.
“They’re not unbeatable – they’ve been beaten. We won’t have Kane available because he will be suspended.”