How did we not get something out of that!

Carshalton 2 Balham 0

I will try to avoid the clichés, but so many would be apt after this lunchtime match against the League leaders Carshalton. In a very different match to last week, where we were beaten by the better side, Balham dominated the match, with the bulk of possession and mutliple chances. To be fair to Carshalton, their defence was impregnable, with the keeper having a great game, at least three blocks on the line from defenders and astonishing resilience when their penalty area was being bombarded with free kicks and corners in the last ten minutes.

On a narrow and muddy pitch, it was not the best conditions for our passing game, but the boys started well with Junior and Charlie particularly prominent on the right. In the first couple of minutes, AJ's shot was somehow blocked by the keeper after a sloppy back pass. The boys had a few more chances and looked stronger, although most were from outside of the box and did not trouble the keeper. In fact, Carshalton should have taken the lead with a clear chance after some risky passing in our own half. Balham continued to look to play football, with Igor and Wilbur snapping into tackles and Jacob playing a high line to combat their long-ball approach. The home side took the lead on 25 minutes with a lucky break; a shot was going wide but George's already outstretched leg deflected the ball agonisingly over the line. Incredibly unlucky and really not reflective of the game. Balham could not make the most of a few free-kicks at the edge of the area, one after AJ had been unceremoniously taken out by their large centre-back, a foul that was lucky to go unpunished. In the last couple of minutes, AJ did round the keeper after an excellent lofted ball from Alex, but the touch was a little heavy and made the finish tough. The defender cleared it off the line as a result.

At half-time, the boys remained confident and put on a performance in the second half that their linesman described as 'relentless'. With almost all of the possession and probably 20 chances, no-one can fault them for their absolute desire to get back into the game. Unfortunately, the odd heavy touch and panicked decision-making ended up undoing all of the effort - there were a few too many shots from distance and poor touches in the box from promising positions. AJ put a couple of balls across the box but we could not quite finish it, and Igor was incredibly unfortunate not to score from a corner after he showed brilliant skill to fathom an effort with his left foot. Somehow it was knocked off the line by the defender. Balham could have had a penalty but a very honest AJ did not go down when he had been clipped, and Igor had another chance from a lethal Alex free-kick but it came off his knee straight into the hands of the keeper.

In the last twenty minutes, Balham went to 3 at the back, which by the end had become 2 as we pressed and pressed. On the whole, a returning Damian B, George and Alex looked very comfortable and Jacob cleared all of their long balls. Unfortunately we were hit by a sucker punch on the break soon after the system change though - a simple finish with the game stretched. The match looked over but the Whites continued to pile forward and made several more chances before the end. Jude's left foot shot was somehow saved by the keeper, Luke headed just wide from a corner, and several blocks were pulled off with Alex peppering the box with throw-ins and corners. Sadly, it was not to be and a dejected bunch trudged off the pitch.

As Jamie said at the end, sometimes this happens in football and the boys should remain positive as they look forward to the rest of the season. Whilst we are now 7 points behind Carshalton, we do have three games in hand and should feel very confident about the return fixture. The boys do still have the best Points Per Game average (2.44 vs. Carshalton 2.42, Colliers Wood 2.1, Leatherhead 2.0) but of course do not have the points on the board. Interestingly, Leatherhead remain unbeaten other than our two victories against them and still have to play Colliers Wood twice and Carshalton once. All to play for!