Badshot Lea slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home to Leatherhead in the Isthmian League South Central Division despite producing a spirited second-half fightback at Westfield Lane.

Goals from Trevan Robinson, Tyler Cox and Ibrahim Olatude put the visitors 3-0 up in the first half, but second-half goals from Lamin Ceesay and Kareem Akinnibi set up a grandstand finale.

The Baggies started brightly and won an early corner, from which George Hedley’s shot was blocked. The home side went close again in the fifth minute when Akinnibi’s shot went over the bar.

The Tanners took the lead on nine minutes when a corner was flicked on to Robinson at the far post, who produced an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

The Baggies nearly equalised in the 23rd minute when Cam Rohart-Brown’s corner found Hedley, whose header hit the crossbar.

The visitors doubled their advantage on 24 minutes when Cox produced a superb right-foot finish into the far right-hand corner. Leatherhead then scored their third in the 28th minute when Olatude got a touch to Kenny Beaney’s free kick.

The Baggies came out with renewed energy in the second half, and Ceesay drove forward on 63 minutes and forced a good save from Leatherhead keeper Amadou Tangara.

The visitors created a good chance in the 66th minute when Olatude played in Robinson, who shot over the bar.

The Baggies went back down the other end, and Ceesay’s shot was well blocked by Fabio Saraiva. On 69 minutes the visitors nearly scored a fourth when Cox’s shot forced a good save by Baggies keeper Harry Cawdron.

The home side kept plugging away and Josh Keeya’s shot forced a good save from Tangara.

The Baggies then won a penalty in the 73rd minute when Ceesay was fouled in the box, and Ceesay stepped up and sent Tangara the wrong way as he confidently tucked his penalty into the bottom right-hand corner.

It was 3-2 on 79 minutes when a ball over top found Akinnibi, who put the ball into the empty net after his initial effort was saved by Tangara.

The Baggies pushed hard for an equaliser, but the visitors held on to claim the three points.

Next up for the Baggies is a home game against Uxbridge in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).