Dustbowl double-header

Elmstead 3 Balham 1

Elmstead 2 Balham 1

A dusty double-header, and a disappointing defensive display, ended up in two defeats for Balham. The boys were exhausted after playing back to back matches, and found it tough-going on a hard and bobbly pitch.

It was clear from the outset that both teams would find it difficult to play the ball on the ground with a hard crack-ridden pitch. The home side made their intentions clear from the outset, with Jacob saving with his legs and Wilbur making a last-gasp tackle early on. The home side’s pressure told with a lovely move down the right which was swept home.

This kicked Balham into gear, with Amine getting on the ball more and looking dangerous. George’s free-kick was well saved and the Whites had a spell of pressure. With excellent skill approaching the penalty area, Jude twisted and turned only to be fouled by a defender. To the left off the penalty area, Jude brushed himself off to hit a lovely shot against the bar, with an alert George there to score a deserved equaliser.

Ethan hit a shot just wide from outside the area as Balham looked to capitalise. The home team battled back though, hitting the bar just before the break.

At 1-1, the second half was anyone’s game, but Elmstead always looked dangerous on the counter-attack. It was Balham who had an early chance though, with Jude’s left-foot effort being saved by the stand-in keeper’s legs. Ethan, Jacob and Wilbur somehow managed to foil an attack when their pacy striker was clean-through but the stalemate did not last for long. Elmstead had a prolonged spell of pressure around the penalty area, with Balham missing several opportunities to clear the ball. It required more assertive tackling, in truth, allowing a midfielder to hit a hopeful effort in from the edge of the box.

Balham pushed for an equaliser, with George and Will showing some good skill in one attack. As the clock ticked on, Elmstead struck us on the break again, with a fierce shot hitting the bar. Their striker was there to wrap up the win.

In the second game, the boys showed a lot more grit and determination and were very unlucky to be defeated in the last minute.

Amine was clattered in the first minute of the game, which set the tone for a spiky game with several tough challenges. George and Amine showed that when they combined in midfield, the boys look so much more dangerous. Threading a ball through to Will, Ollie picked up the pass on the left only for Jude’s shot to be fired just wide.

After another strong tackle, Wilbur needed to leave the pitch injured but still the boys pushed forward. Amine’s hopeful long-range effort was spilled by the goalkeeper who recovered excellently to scoop the ball off the line.

Suddenly, a counter-punch changed the game. Jacob came out of his area to try to clear a long-ball but was robbed by the oncoming striker who put the home side 1-0 up.

Balham still pushed forward, and after some lovely skill from Amine, George’s shot was well saved, the final effort of the first half.

The Whites started the second-half brightly, with George’s free-kick superbly headed clear by a brave defender. Balham then had a flurry of corners, but just could not make them count. George could not quite poke home from Ethan’s cross and it looked like the goal would never come.

With 5 minutes to go though, it looked like Balham had rescued the game. Jude was felled on the edge of the box, to howls of derision from the opponent’s defence. Gethin calmly stepped up to rifle the penalty in for a well-deserved equaliser.

In a madcap last few minutes, both sides went for the win. Basil and Luca both blocked counter-attacks from the home side. Sadly, it was Elmstead who secured the victory in the last minute after a short corner to the edge of the box. The exhausted Balham defence were unable to stop the dangerous striker curling a superb right-footed effort into the top corner. Heads dropped as it felt tough on the boys, and the whistle blew seconds later.