Troubling home form undoes Balham again

Balham 2 Reigate Priory 3

It could be written down as 'one of those days', but there have been too many of 'those days' at home this season. Balham fell to an unexpected defeat, somehow losing the match against a team who they should have beaten. But for an offside goal, profligacy in front of goal, and a penalty decision that was somehow not given, the Whites would have come out of the game more favourably. As it was, three slightly strange goals from the away side punished Balham - all goals that were sloppy defensively with a degree of fortune to them. It is very likely that this will prove to be a pivotal result in the season; the boys need to get their heads up and finish the season strongly for any last chance of promotion. Results will need to go their way to ensure this now, but a third-placed spot is still possible.

It was a fairly quiet start for both teams, although Balham nearly struck after 10 minutes when Max lobbed an out of position keeper only for a superb clearance off the line from the central defender. Alex then nearly scored directly from the corner with the rebound bouncing just wide from Max.

With Reigate's first attack, a defensive mix-up between Jacob and Patrick gifted them a goal and somehow Balham were a goal down.

The Whites rebounded well although they missed several missed opportunities beforehand. Ty's glancing header from Wilbur's free-kick and a couple of long-range free-kicks were the best chances. Finally, the deserved equaliser came after Joe pressured the keeper into a mistake. Max was on hand to calmly slot the ball in left-footed. For the reminder of the half, Balham passed the ball around well and were the better side but had to be content with the scores being level at the break.

The second half was more open: George went close with a deflected shot after a pacy run from Dylan and Jacob made a goal-saving block with his legs from a rare Reigate attack. The Whites wasted a number of opportunities from corners, and perhaps need some more routines worked on to make their pressure pay in matches. Astonishingly, it was then from Reigate's only corner of the game that they took an unexpected lead. A very well hit corner could not be cleared and went over the line from a Balham head.

Tomasz immediately switched the formation to 3-5-2 with Ty joining Max up front. Immediately Balham looked dangerous although they were reliant on too many long balls through. A deserved equaliser came after Max's shot was parried with Jude the quickest to react.

At 2-2, it looked like Balham might go on to win it and a pivotal next few minutes followed. Firstly, a penalty was not given after Ty was seemingly hacked down by three Reigate defenders, and then Joe scored a delightful curled shot but it was ruled offside by the linesman. With Balham pushing for the win, an excellent clearance from Jacob found Wilbur down the right who crossed the ball in but Ty could not quite hit the ball on target and the strong spell of pressure ended.

With five minutes to go, a hammer blow came with the game stretched. Some sloppy defending somehow allowed the ball through to an unmarked winger on the far post with 2 or 3 opportunities to clear beforehand. The Whites huffed and puffed for the last few minutes but nothing came and a gutted set of boys left the pitch knowing that they really should have come away with a better result.

The results today broadly went Balham's way:

Farnham 3:3 Mitcham Park Stripes

Worcester Park 5:2 Walton & Hersham

Carshalton 3:1 Sheen

Ashford 2:1 Epsom & Ewell

As a result, the table looks like this, with Balham remaining 4th on goal difference, although Mitcham have a game in hand. Ashford look odds-on to win the league now; let's hope that their fine run of form continues with Sutton and Mitcham to play twice. Defeats for Sheen and Epsom & Ewell mean that neither can make the top 3, and it is looking like the third spot is between Sutton, Mitcham and Balham. Equally, Mitcham and Balham could finish as low as eighth.

Balham beat next week's opponents Epsom in the Cup earlier this season, although the scoreline was a little flattering. They now face them in consecutive weeks, and will need to step up from today's performance. Epsom's close scoreline against Ashford suggests that they have improved so two tough games await. The Whites almost certainly need to win every match now to finish third and are reliant on other results. A possibility but sadly not in as good a position as we should have been after today.

Ashford (Max points: 50 / PPG: 46.7)

Sutton Common (H), Sutton Common (A), Walton (A), Mitcham Park (H), Mitcham Park (A)

Farnham (Max points: 40 / PPG: 38.9)

Walton (A)

Sutton Common (Max points: 41 / PPG: 37.6)

Ashford (A), Ashford (H), Balham (A)

Balham (Max points: 37 / PPG: 32.9)

Epsom (H), Epsom (A), Sutton Common (H)

Mitcham Park (Max points: 40 / PPG: 35.0)

Worcester Park (H), Worcester Park (A), Ashford (H), Ashford (A)

Sheen (Max points: 31 / PPG 29.5)

Reigate (H)

Epsom (Max points: 32 / PPG 28.9)

Balham (A), Balham (H)