Harsh lesson learnt

Balham 0 Croygas 3

Injuries and absences are hitting Balham at the wrong time, and the boys went down to their second consecutive defeat. In a week where poor Wilbur was added to the season-ending injury list with Jacob, poor Ethan H got injured during the match with a potential broken thumb. It was not the week for there to be other absences and for there to be minimal options on the bench as a result.

The season is rapidly becoming a 'what if' one. In a league with several evenly-matched teams, the Whites really have the potential to be higher up the League. We have not seen a single team pass the ball around as well as the boys do, and even in this game Balham dominated possession against the League leaders, particularly in the first half. With everything seemingly going against them injury-wise, the 12 boys battled incredibly hard today and really deserved more out of the game. It would be fantastic if the full squad now collectively showed its full potential for the remaining six games of the season.

Balham started really well, and had numerous corners in the first-half. George came very close hitting a shot just over, and Ethan C showed lovely skill in the box but could not beat the keeper from a tight angle. At the other end, the away side's attacks were infrequent and the boys had complete control against direct balls - a pleasing improvement from previous games. Then, completely out of the blue, the opposition picked up on a loose pass and scored an unfathomable goal from 30 plus yards - a great finish, but completely against the run of play.

Jude very nearly restored order instantly with a great piece of skill resulting in a left foot shot striking the base of the post. A couple of minutes later, an easier chance was missed and it looked like it was going to be one of those days. Despite several more corners and almost constant Balham pressure, Croygas broke again to take an unmerited 2-0 lead into the second half.

Sadly Ethan H had to come off at half-time and we wish him the best diagnosis in St George's. The Whites lost control in the second half as the boys understandably tired. Despite this, we created chances with Semi firing wide, Jude hitting the post again, and two wasted free-kicks from the edge of the box. In between Croygas had scored a third to round off a miserable morning.