A POOR first half display from Virginia Water cost them dearly as they fell to a 3-1 home defeat in their Hellenic League Premier Division clash with Flackwell Heath on Tuesday evening.

The hosts made a dreadful start as they conceded in the second minute, a long ball flicked on by Josh Dillon to Muhamadou Ceesay whose cut-back was nodded home by Harry Ritchie.

Flackwell doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when Charlie Malin scored a superb individual goal after jinking through the Virginia Water midfield and defence before slotting home.

It was 3-0 on 40 minutes as Ceesay again showed his class by rounding the keeper and squaring the ball back for captain Dean Allen to finish.

The hosts showed character in the second half and pulled a goal back courtesy of a sumptuous Josh Hill free-kick, but they never looked likely to further their comeback against a strong Flackwell side who sit second and unbeaten after five games.

Virginia Water had previously picked up their first win of the season with an accomplished 2-0 success at Abingdon United.

Adam McNamara gave Waters the lead in the 22nd minute, and Hill went on to make it 2-0 midway through the second half.

The visitors defence then held firm to secure a maiden victory in their first season in the top flight.

Virginia Water travel to Windsor on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

  • For more pictures see today's Observer.