Badshot Lea started their Combined Counties Premier Division South campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Sutton Common Rovers on Saturday.

The Baggies nearly took the lead in the eighth minute when Mark Holley’s corner found Max Cunningham, whose effort went just wide.

The visitors went close again on 12 minutes when Freddie Jamieson’s cross found Cunningham, whose header went over the bar.

The hosts were awarded a penalty shortly afterwards for a foul by George Winkworth, and James Anderson stepped up from the spot and fired his 15th-minute penalty past Baggies keeper Rileigh Hebditch to give Sutton Common Rovers the lead.

Sutton Common doubled their advantage on 45 minutes when Anderson’s looping effort went over Hebditch and into the back of the net.

The Baggies pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb’s shot was parried by home keeper Archie Simmonds to Stan Jones, who tucked home the rebound to make it 2-1.

Badshot Lea pushed for a late leveller, but the hosts held on to claim all three points.