Limp end to the season as 3 players depart

Balham 0 Carshalton 3

What a disappointing way to end the season, both for the team as a whole and particularly those who are leaving the club. More on the season and departing players later, after a short report of a poor performance played in very difficult conditions.

The wind caused havoc during the match, and was partly responsible for two of Carshalton's goals. Nonetheless, the away side thoroughly deserved their victory - having never beaten us before, they clearly wanted it more, showed more energy and passion and coped with the wind and rock-hard pitch so much better than us. Balham looked like a team who have not trained enough together over the last few weeks - a real disappointment after last week's performance too with a specific request for better attendance at training.

The game was scrappy throughout with the ball really hard to control on the end of season pitch. Balham did not really test the keeper for the whole match; the boys looked lacking in ideas going forward and resorted to long-range efforts which mostly went wide. The team in red took the lead with a very speculative effort which held up in the wind and found the top of the net; the second was comical, swirling around in the penalty box after a very loose pass from the Whites.

In the second-half, the match was as good as over after five minutes when a hopeful punt through was latched on to by the striker. The Whites improved their performance a little for the rest of the match, without really creating much. George's long-range shot saw a save for the cameras from their stand-in keeper, an unmarked Matthieu headed over from a corner, and Jude stabbed a long throw-in wide. The boys were thoroughly beaten by a side who have not had a particularly good season - a real disappointment.

The season will go down as one where the boys have clearly not lived up to their potential, despite suffering from a host of injuries to key players. At times, the Whites have shown the crisp passing skill we all love to watch, but it has been too irregular and we have lost count of the amount of matches where we have been beaten by sides we should be beating. A special word for George and Jude who have been ever-present, and to those who have regularly showed up to training in a bid to improve their game. For the boys to really deliver what they are capable of, this attendance needs to drastically improve next season otherwise there will be too many days like today.

And so on to the departing players. Matthieu, the 'Duracell bunny' as Jamie christened him, will leave a tonne of energy on the pitch and we will miss his energy and determination. He never stops running, a true midfield powerhouse and also a goalscorer - scoring a superb goal against Croygas this season and equal top of the scoring charts last. He was of course joined at the top by Max, who has a wand of a left foot and scored several beautiful curling efforts in his time at Balham. A fantastic scoring patch of 8 in 9 this season was then rounded off by a hat-trick against Nork Park, including one of those trademark curlers. Last but not least, we say goodbye to Ethan H who has been ransacked by injuries over the last two seasons, but when available has always shown fierce determination and commitment. One of Balham's longest-standing players, he has been a fantastic asset to the club, showing maturity beyond his years. He was a critical member of the U10s Invincibles season, and we have all loved him returning to play after his horrific arm injury. We wish the three of them the best of luck.

There will be some friendlies across the combined squad before a final decision is made on next season's squad, please look out for these.