Sheen Lions 1 Balham 3

In a well-contested game, Balham came out winners to get their League season back on track after last week's defeat. For the first time this season, Balham put on a better second-half performance, showing lots of grit and determination to grind out the victory. On another day they could have had more to show for their efforts.

The pitch was another new venue for the boys, Palewell Common, not too far away from our home ground. The pitch was a little bobbly and uneven and required great concentration to control the ball.

Ty, making his debut, put in several early blocks and challenges and showed astute positioning to prevent attacks. The Whites had the first chance, Jude coming close with a left-footed effort after excellent work from Dylan on the right wing. With the next attack, Balham took the lead. Again, it came from the right flank - which looked a promising route for the boys every time they used that side. Again, Dylan's pace outfoxed the defender to set up George who swung an excellent cross across the box. With the keeper floundering, Gethin was perfectly positioned to to volley the ball home.

The rest of the first half was a backs-to-the-wall performance from Balham, as the boys lost control of midfield and left far too many gaps for the team in blue to exploit. A nervy back-pass nearly put us in trouble, and Jacob had to pull off a close-range save which Ty then cleared off the line. With Sheen having a succession of corners, they were really knocking on the door. An equaliser came after a rash challenge from Jacob clattered their attacker in the box and the striker levelled with ease.

Balham were a little lucky to go into halftime level, with Basil having to put in a superb tackle and block to prevent their striker from running through on goal.

Whatever Tomasz said at half-time worked though, with the boys so much more competitive and on the front-foot. For the first time this season, we looked the fitter side, with Ethan, Dylan, Ollie and Tarquin all running hard to stretch the defence.

Max was so close to scoring Balham's second with a beautiful left-foot effort hitting the underside of the crossbar. For a second it looked like it would rebound in off the keeper but it rolled away and Sheen were able to clear. At the other end, Jacob needed to turn one around the post when the attacker was well-placed.

The right wing was starting to look incredibly dangerous again for Balham with Wilbur threading some balls through for Dylan to chase and Ethan constantly pushing down the line. From an Ethan throw-in, Tarquin came close but the keeper was equal to it.

It was a much better ten minutes with Alex and Luca nicking in and winning lots of balls, Ty looking very solid and the Whites able to get George and Wilbur on the ball more. From another attack, there was chaos in the penalty area and somehow Balham were awarded a penalty when everyone expected the decision to go the other way. Undeterred, George stepped up to rifle in his fifth goal of the season from the spot.

A minute later, Balham were so close to wrapping it up after a glorious move from Wilbur and Dylan which Max was inches from slotting home.

It looked like we would suffer a counter-punch though as the third penalty of the match was awarded with five minutes to go. Wilbur had chased back and slid into the attacker from behind; from a distance it looked outside of the box, but the ref awarded it. With Jacob doing his best to put the attacker off, nerves got to him and he blasted the spot-kick over, with a shot so wayward that the ball got lost in the trees behind.

For the final few minutes, Balham looked assured with Chris and Ty putting several headers in and the attackers fathoming more chances. Gethin showed a sublime piece of skill hitting the ball with the outside of his right foot but the keeper pulled off a great save. Tarquin nearly opened his Balham account after another pacy run from Dylan, and George fired over after a monumental scramble in the box.

With the last kick of the game, Balham were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. George stepped up to float it towards the far corner and it sailed in to the delight of the boys.

A much improved performance, and the Whites can look forward to another game against Reigate next week.