Saturday 14th February, 2026

Combined Counties League Premier Division South

Match Result:

Badshot Lea 2 v 2 Redhill FC

Redhill goalscorers:

Aidan Brown (45+2')
Alex Keating (56')

Daryl Coleman 🟥 (67’)

Attendance: 102
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Westfield Lane

Lobster Army Player of the Match

#23 Noah Africa

Match Report

Written by Luke Constable, Lobster Army

“Let’s start with the pitch inspection. Referee “bounces” the ball in the centre. It doesn’t bounce. He does this three times. Everyone is thinking here we go, another week off. Fourth time, 2 yards to the side, a small bounce. Game on!

First Half

The first twenty minutes went through with little to no incident except Ryan Ferrar getting a booking after 10 minutes, then giving away another similar foul a minute later. 14 minutes in, Ryan subbed off, debut for Noah Afrika.

Scruffy game, pitch conditions not helping, lots of ball in the air, but sadly, little quality to the game.

45 minutes on the clock, ready to go off and get a half-time pint, a sudden moment of quality as Paddi Harland-Goddard threads a great ball through for Aiden Brown. Rolls it passed the keeper, hits the post, and rebounds, knocked in. We’ll give it to Aiden, no player wants to claim an OG!

30 seconds later half time.

Second Half

Second half kicks off and within the first minute, Badshot equalise. A cross is miss controlled by Tommy Smith and Badshot sweep it into the net. 1-1.

Ironic cheers from the 100 fans in the ground as in the 50th minute, the referee requires treatment. Appears he has twisted his ankle or knee on one of the holes developing on the pitch that he deemed okay. After receiving treatment from the home team, play recommences.

57th minute another moment of quality this time from Rooney (Darryl Coleman) who delivers a deep cross, brilliantly attacked by George Bond who heads it towards the back stick where the clinical Alex Keating is there to tap home. 2-1 Redhill 57 on the clock!

Drama ensues in minute 67. Rooney - who has already been booked for a trip earlier in the game - is deemed to bring down a Badshot attacker in the box. Questionable? Very! Even conversations post game with oppo fans said the same thing.

But the referee makes his decision - Badshot Penalty, second yellow for Rooney, and Billy Oram also sin binned.

All of a sudden, Redhill, in control, are down to 9, and with the penalty being converted sending James Dillon the wrong way, it’s now 2-2.

Backs to the wall for the next 10 minutes with only 9 on the pitch. Badshot probe with relative patience moving the ball across the pitch left to right, right to left, deliver the cross, dealt with by the two strong CB’s Tommy Smith and Harry Pointing.

With only 9 on the pitch, there’s no real outlet, so this continues until Billy is allowed to renter the pitch!

Only 10 to go, Danny Dudley on to replace goascorer Aiden Brown. Solidify the defence!

5 to go and the final moment of drama.

The referee is injured again. The Lino has to take his spot, problem being, this means there is no Lino - the point was made that the ref didn’t move out of the centre circle much anyway so surely could’ve carried on for the final 5+ added but no.

After much deliberation at the sidelines, including offers from various people to run the line - myself included! - a young lad is given the flag…

At this point, let’s hope nothing contentious happens on his decisions!

Play recommences, with no one knowing how long is left. Somewhere within the couple of minutes which were played, we hear 3 minutes to go. Seems questionable, but with the amount of time the game had stopped due to referee injuries and the Badshot penalty, what can we do!

A few pushing and shoving on the side where the makeshift linesman was, but nothing happened from it.

Redhill is pushing for a late winner with the big men in the box, but couldn’t quite find a finish from the barrage of crosses and corners.

And the three blows on the whistle from the ref, game over. 2-2.

Summary

All in all, a tough game in conditions not overly conducive to football, but in reflection, probably a fair result considering both teams have been weeks without football, the pitch heavily cut up, and Redhill going down to 9/10.

Another point in the bank, and the playoff push continues.

Thank you to Badshot for their hospitality as well!”