Baggies Bounce Back - TCFC 0-3 Badshot Lea

Goals from Rule, Walster and Cadete saw visitors Badshot Lea leave Barlows Park with all three points in a midweek Combined Counties South fixture where both teams were in need of points. Tadley-Calleva went into the game off the back of a nil-nil draw away at struggling Redhill while their visitors were on the end of a shock defeat away at local rivals Farnham town.

Tadley got the game underway on bitterly cold night in North Hampshire but were unable to obtain control of the ball in the early stages as the visitors agressive press allowed them to create a handful of half chances, but none that looked threatening to Atkinson in the Tadles net.

Within ten minutes, however, Tadley had the first real opportunity to open the scoring. A throw in on the left hand side found Ben Wright, who allowed the ball to run across his body. He got a shot away that bounced just before the diving goalkeeper but Lunn, in the Baggies goal was able to get down and put the ball behind for a corner.

Badshot Lea continued to push forward but now with more intent and they started to look threatening with each passing move.

A loose ball on the half way line was picked up by Dean Rule who produced a lovely bit of skill to knock the ball past Louie Chambers. He continued his run deep inside the Tadley half, cut inside onto his right foot and slotted the ball into the far corner. Tadley now had a mountain to climb.

The visitors kept pushing without reply and kept looking likely to score with each move. Tadley were not able to get a foothold in the game, allowing Badshot Lea to hold possesion of the ball in the middle of the park.

Dominance paid off. Badshot Lea doubled their lead on thirty nine minutes after a corner from the right hand side found it's way to Walster on the edge of the box unopposed. With time on his side, Walster was able to adjust his body and place his shot past Atkinson and into the bottom riht-hand corner of Tadley's goal.

Tadley-Calleva went into the break two-nil down & looked to be deflated with the first half performance.

The second forty-five started much as the first ended & within the first minute Tadley could have seen themselves three down had it not been for a strong save down to the left hand-side by Atkinson.

Tadley started to grow into the half and were now getting a small bit of joy in their attempt to break the defensive line of their visitors. Half chances came and went without much danger of a goal and any chance of a comeback grew increasingly unlikely.

It was with just three minutes left to play that the game was put out of reach. Late substitue Danilo Cadete was put in behind Tadley's defence and found himself one on one with Atkinson, Cadete opened up his body and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to secure alll three points for his side.

Tadley will be frustrated with both the performance, and the result & will be eager to push on with another tough teset on Saturday where they host Sheerwater FC.

Tadley remain in eighth place while opponents Badshot Lea move to within 6 points of league leaders Raynes Park Vale.