Late equaliser in top of the table clash

Balham 1 Carshalton 1

Balham rescued a point with five minutes to go in a match they could have won but for some proflicagy in front of goal. Whilst the Whites were not as dominant as in the away game, they played well and were unfortunate to find themselves chasing the game. With Leatherhead losing against Colliers Wood, we know that it will take a maximum of 43 points to win the League - 11 points from the last 15 available.

For the second successive Sunday, the weather was bright and sunny which made for a bouncy pitch and some exhausted players who gave it their all. Balham started well, after an excellent run from Joe beat their left-back. It ended up being the first of several corners. The away side nearly caught us out with a lightening quick break from one of them but Jacob blocked well. From our next corner, an almighty scramble ensued in the box, but no-one could quite poke it home.

The first really clear chance came for the home side after an excellent incisive pass from Jude set Junior free. Cutting in well from the left, the ball fell kindly for Jude who side-footed the ball just over the bar from inside the box. Junior himself then had a couple of half-chances, a shot well blocked by the keeper from a tight angle, and a lovely volley well parried. Carshalton were not creating much but a lucky break, again from one of our own corners, required a lung-busting run from Wilbur to clear the ball. With Max on for AJ upfront, he capitalised on some sloppy defending to round the keeper only to be hauled down by the central defender. A clear penalty, which unfortunately Jude hit at the right height for the keeper to make a diving save to his right.

The team in red looked more dangerous in the first few minutes of the second half, relying on direct balls and free-kicks to cause problems. In most instances our defence held firm with several strong headers from George, Igor and Wilbur. Unfortunately, our nemesis this season - the floated ball into the box - caused our undoing again with an unmarked attacker bundling the ball in. Balham had it all to do.

The Whites struck back well creating several chances to equalise almost immediately. After a quick break, Jude's shot went over the bar, and Junior's chance likewise after Jude had flicked him through. A free-kick from a promising position was not taken advantage of and it looked like the boys would be regretting missed chances against the League leaders again.

At the other end, our bar was struck by a hopeful free-kick, and with the game stretched, Jacob made an excellent one-on-one save with his left hand to deny their attacker. Balham continued to push, with their keeper making his own excellent stop from AJ's header.

Finally, an equaliser came with just five minutes left on the clock. Damian R showed pace and composure on the left to square the ball across the box, a further flick from AJ found Max in acres of space. With lots of time to pick his spot, the right-winger blasted the ball into the top corner and the boys were level. The game became very end to end for the last few minutes, with Balham giving away some needless fouls resulting in dangerous free-kicks and Jude firing just over from a half-chance.

The match was definitely one of the tougher tests that the boys have faced this season, and they dug deep to maintain their unbeaten home record. With five matches to go in the season, the Whites now have an excellent chance to finish strongly before their GCSEs.