Cup agony and a hard-fought League defeat

Most of us will be glad to see the back of Bromley for the season. After the thrilling 3-3 in the Cup game, probably the best performance of the season, the damp squib of finishing off the game two weeks later was required.

In a very cagey 10 minutes of extra-time, the game went to script. Bromley had most of the possession but did not threaten the Balham goal at all. A single free kick was floated into Jacob's arms, but for the most part the Whites got men behind the ball and defended in numbers. The freshly-returned Chris, smile on face as usual, put in a number of blocks and tackles, as did Luca, Wilbur and Ethan. Whilst Balham never threatened, it looked like the tie would be resolved by penalties after all.

With a slightly sickening inevitability, it wasn't to be. An unmarked midfielder was fed the ball at the edge of the area from a corner in the last minute, only to unleash a superb right foot curling shot into the top corner. Bromley 4 Balham 3 AET.

The boys had to quickly shake off their disappointment with a full hour of League football to come. The task was made even harder after Bromley scored an early goal. Jacob's fine save from the first shot was unfortunately parried into the path of the onrushing striker who had a simple tap-in.

Unlike the extra-time, Balham had more touches in the opposition's half although rarely threatened in the first half. Amine's free-kick from distance went just wide; he also combined well several times with Ethan and Will but Balham could not get many shots away. Bromley always looked dangerous on the attack and but for some excellent defending from Dylan and fine saves from Jacob, the boys would have been further behind. Dylan, playing LWB, regularly used his pace and strength to outmuscle the attackers and Jacob saved down to his right well from a left-footed effort, closely followed by a save with his feet after a mix-up in defence.

Balham then had an excellent ten minute spell. Will did have the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside, Jude came close from inside the box but the keeper was sharp to it, Dylan showed great skill down the left to release Wilbur whose long-range drive was turned around the post.

Sadly, the boys could not make their pressure pay and rescued themselves at the other end before half-time. Jacob tipped on to the bar from a rasping shot and Luca put in a trademark sliding tackle to thwart the dangerous attacker.

Sadly the second half started as poorly as the first with an early goal for the home side. The Whites did not seem to want to clear it properly from their own penalty area, despite having a few opportunities to do so, and were savagely punished by their striker.

It was a shame as Balham looked dangerous on the attack. Amine showed some lovely skill to flick the ball over his own head from a corner, only to volley the shot just wide. Moments later. the midfielder danced his way through the opposition defence with a really strong driving run. He was inevitably fouled as it was the only way he was going to be stopped. Wilbur stepped up to drive a superb shot goalwards; the shot thoroughly deserved a goal but rattled the bar with perhaps the faintest of touches from their goalkeeper on the way through.

Dylan again showed excellent tracking back and defending, with a real determination to get the ball back. Will showed lovely skill to take a clearance down but could not quite release Gethin on the right wing.

With an excellent move down the right, the Bromley right-winger floated a delicious cross across the penalty area for the onrushing forward to slam the ball home with his left-foot.

A 3-0 scoreline probably flattered the hosts, and you could sense the annoyance from the Balham team. More than any time in the match, the boys were putting tackles in, standing up for each other and putting themselves in 50/50 situations with more passion than the opposition.

A deserved goal came after Wilbur's free-kick resulted in a faint headed touch from Will. This spurred the boys on again, and the last five minutes was end to end. Dylan tackled well again, but moments later Bromley were clear on the break. Jacob came out of his area to reach the ball just before the striker with a crunching tackle, which ended up setting up an attack. The next thing we knew, Amine was feeding the ball through to Gethin on the right wing. With excellent poise and balance, he crossed the ball across the area for Ollie to bury it into the roof of the net after a lung-busting run.

Sadly, that was the last meaningful action of the game, with the final score 3-2. If the boys show the same determination in their next game, a double-header relegation battle against Oakwood Youth FC, then surely some better luck will come their way.