Smashing spring-time second-half in the sun

Balham 4 Moormead Wanderers 1

Balham put together back to back wins with a superlative second-half performance against a much-changed Moormead side. Struck by injuries yet again, the Whites had 11 this week - although had to play with 10 for a few minutes in the latter stages.

The boys were by far the better side, showing excellent passing in midfield, some delightful flicks and control, and a solid defence that was rarely troubled. The match was scrappy to begin with though, with the Whites too reliant on long-range efforts having spotted that the goalkeeper looked fragile and nervy. With the away side's first attack, though, they won a penalty down the left of the penalty area after Charlie's trailing leg felled the winger. Against the run of play, the boys found themselves 1-0 down.

For the rest of the half, Balham huffed and puffed but could not create a really clear chance. Gethin shot straight at the keeper after George had put through a good ball; with the goalkeeper stranded, Jude was unlucky shooting from distance but a fortunate defender who did not seem to know much about it got in the way; Wilbur found Jude in space who showed some great touches but his left foot effort was saved.

Oddly it was Moormead who nearly doubled their lead after an exceptional 35 yard free-kick hit the post.

At half-time, the boys looked a little despondent but it was clear the match was winnable and so it proved. Within a minute of the restart, Max had hit a shot into the side netting and Balham were looking considerably more dangerous. A deserved equaliser came after some superb skill in midfield by George to control a bobbling ball. He found Wilbur - again the pair were dominating midfield - whose incisive ball reached Gethin in the box. With great calmness, his assured finish diagonally across the keeper was unstoppable and Balham had their equaliser.

Balham were then down to ten for a period, after an ill Jacob felt faint and had to come off to recuperate. With Alex between the sticks for a five minute period, the match became a little more expansive which provided more room for Wilbur and George to pull the strings in the centre of the park. After a foul on the edge of the box, the Whites had a chance from the edge of the box. The initial free kick did not trouble the defence, but a dogged Wilbur regained the ball and poked the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper let the ball sneak under his body and Balham had the lead.

With a recovered Jacob back on, the 11 players were rampant for the rest of the half. Max was unlucky to be called offside, and Gethin's lung-busting run resulted in a superb cross which the defenders just managed to clear. It looked like a third was coming, and so it proved with another mistake from the goalkeeper. George's long-range shot was high, but was spilled into the net and the match looked secure.

The icing on the cake came after some excellent play between Wilbur and Jude released the latter on the right. A tantalising cross beat the helpless defenders and Gethin was there to volley the ball home to score a resounding fourth.

With Alex suffering from a glute injury for the last few minutes, again the boys were down to 10. Despite this, Moormead were a beaten side and nearly conceded a fifth but Max was unable to convert after their replacement keeper went walkabout.

Balham now have a break for Easter before returning for the final two matches of the season.