Balham 5 Balham U11s 1

Football returned on a sunny September Sunday morning, after six months without a game. In a good run-out for the boys before the league kicks off, it was an opportunity to develop some match fitness and run off some of those hours in front of the Playstation. There was some definite rustiness to the boys' play, but equally some positive touches and a growing willingness to play the ball out from the back.

As we have seen many times before, the key to successful football was when Balham made the pitch as large as possible, and quickly passed between themselves to stretch the opposition.

In the first twenty minutes, it was all Balham U12s as the younger side got to grips with their first 9 a side game. With a couple of early chances, Jude coming particularly close with a left foot just wide, it only seemed a matter of time before a goal was scored. And so it came, with Jalil showing his blistering pace to chase down a ball heading towards the keeper and slot home for the boys' first.

Amine showed that he had not forgotten how to use his feet, fathoming himself a great chance, with his left foot shot just heading past the post. Soon afterwards, Jude made it two with an excellently-placed left foot effort.

It looked like the older boys might run away with it, with Jalil firing a shot just wide. Ollie and Jude were showing good feet down the left and Chris and Dylan sweeping up consistently well. Gethin's left foot effort was well saved by the impressive U11 keeper, but a deserved third came from the dancing feet of George immediately afterwards.

From our first corner of the game, George's excellently flighted cross was headed home by Jalil who towered over the younger boys to place home. A fifth was added by guest player Will to round off an impressive first half.

The second half was a different story though. Noticeably tired on occasion, Balham lacked the zip of the first half, although they should have added to the scoresheet. Jacob, who hardly touched the ball in the first half, looked comfortable on the ball as the defenders needed to use him more in the face of an impressive pressing game from the U11s. Helped by an additional player, it was a good test for our boys to try to play their way around the hungry young side.

Jacob pulled off a good save with his head with a striker clean through, but could not save on the second occasion as the U11s scored a deserved goal.

Somehow Balham did not add to their total. George's free kick was superbly turned on to the crossbar by the keeper, who then flew himself at Dylan's feet to stop a one on one before the rebound was hit towards goal by Will. Some dogged defending saw that one knocked off the line too.

With the first friendly complete, Balham will be starting to feel their fitness return, to be built on next weekend before the challenge of the league awaits.