Honours even in battling draw

Sheen Lions 2 Balham 2

The boys made it five matches unbeaten in an important clash with the second-placed side. On a small and bobbly pitch, the boys were pegged back twice which made the result a little disappointing, particularly as both of their goals were from defensive errors. Sheen played a very agricultural style of football, all long balls and a throw-in specialist who resembled Rory Delap at his finest. Neil Warnock would have been proud.

The Whites were the better side in the first half, dominating both possession and territory without too much to show for it. Matthieu came the closest after George set him up but the boys were finding it difficult to play their usual passing game in such a cramped space. As the half went on, it became clear that the teams were evenly matched and it would be a tight game. Balham were the side to take advantage of their first clear chance, after a hopeful Matthieu ball bounced off the stranded keeper to leave Jude with an open goal. He controlled it well and slotted in to give Balham the lead. The rest of the half was pretty lacklustre, although Sheen did hit the post after the defence switched off - their only real chance of the half.

The Whites started the second half sluggishly and Jacob needed to save with his legs with the striker clean through. They did not hold on much longer though; from the next corner a poorly skewed clearance found a Sheen player to volley straight in. The boys reacted well, with an excellent Wilbur free-kick only just cleared from the wobbly-looking keeper.

Balham then did take the lead with the best-worked move of the game. An excellent pass from George dumbfounded several defenders for James to finish superbly for a 2-1 lead. Sadly, it did not last long after the ball wasn't cleared from the right, giving the striker a chance which he did brilliantly to finish.

The final fifteen minutes could have gone either way. Balham had to be resilient in defence with a barrage of long throw-ins, but had a few chances themselves, the best of which being Matthieu's snapshot from just outside the area which went a foot or so wide of the post.

A draw was probably a fair result in the end: 3 wins and 2 draws in 2023 is a good return so far.

As expected, Ashford have capitalised with another win; Sutton Common's defeat means the table is incredibly tight with Balham slipping to fifth.

Ashford Town 3:0 Carshalton Athletic

Farnham 1:0 Sutton Common

Walton & Hersham 1:1 Reigate Priory

Mitcham Park Stripes 1:1 Epsom & Ewell

Still all to play for as the table tightens up!

1. Sutton Common P15 26 PTS

2. Farnham Town P13 24 PTS

3. Ashford Town P10 23 PTS

4. Sheen Lions P13 22 PTS

5. Balham FC P12 21 PTS

6. Epsom & Ewell P14 20 PTS

7. Mitcham Park P10 18 PTS