Badshot Lea manager Gavin Smith says key moments are costing his side after the Baggies lost 1-0 at home to Sutton Common Rovers in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday.

Isy Nzelo’s 78th-minute goal was enough to give the visitors the three points at Westfield Lane. Badshot Lea were reduced to ten men on 88 minutes when Baback Dehghani was sent off.

“It’s the key moments in games that are costing us,” said Smith. “We played well on Saturday but we were just missing that final bit to score a goal. I feel if we had scored the first goal we would have won the game. I didn’t look at Sutton Common Rovers and think they were miles better than us – we competed really well but we were just missing that final bit.

“We defended well throughout the game, but then we were done by a long throw. We should have been smarter and not given them the throw-in when we knew that was a key weapon for them. It’s those key details that can prove to be decisive.”

Smith admitted the red card for Dehghani was the correct decision.

“Baback took a heavy challenge and reacted,” said Smith. “He has slapped their player – it was soft but by the letter of the law it is a red card.”

Badshot Lea were also beaten last Thursday evening (April 11), when they lost 5-2 against Binfield in the Isthmian League South Central Division. Binfield raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Mitch Parker’s 21st-minute penalty and Tone Glenn Kusel-Gabriel’s 34th-minute goal. Lamin Ceesay pulled a goal back for the Baggies in first-half stoppage time. George Hedley equalised for Badshot Lea on 52 minutes, but Binfield regained the lead through Tyler D’Cruz’s 62nd-minute goal. Manuchim Oke-William made it 4-2 on 85 minutes, and Dontaye Whittaker scored Binfield’s fifth goal in stoppage time.

“Binfield deserved to win the match but it was never a 5-2 game,” said Smith. “Ultimately we didn’t deal with long throws and balls into our box well enough. Credit to Binfield – they knew what they were good at and what they had to do. They are fighting for their lives. When we got it back to 2-2 the momentum was with us, but conceding the third goal was a real blow and it was tough to go again.”

Badshot Lea were also in action last Tuesday night (April 9), when they drew 2-2 against Hanworth Villa in the Isthmian League South Central Division. The Baggies fell behind on 20 minutes to Ben Geraghty’s goal. Josh Keeya equalised on 61 minutes with a deflected shot, before Baback Dehghani tapped into an empty net on 65 minutes to put the Baggies 2-1 up. Hanworth Villa equalised in the 94th minute.

“It’s disappointing to have conceded in the last minute of the game,” said Smith. “However, we played really well in the second half and it was a very entertaining game. There are loads of positives for us to take.”