Unbeaten league run comes to crashing halt

Balham 1 Reigate Priory 3

Balham's unbeaten League run came to a halt with a strangely lethargic performance against bogey side Reigate Priory. It was a day to forget for the team, who would have lost by more but for a profligate striker who spurned several chances. Sadly, it was one of those days when the Whites went behind early again, and never really recovered to play in the way that they can.

The opposition side had a very pacy striker and a simple game plan: look for the flick on behind our defence and use his pace to cause problems. This happened several times in the first half and Balham could have found themselves 4-0 down but for some excellent 1 on 1 stops from Jacob.

It was with their first attack that Reigate scored in this way. It came after a very casual passage of play where Balham were stroking the ball around at walking pace. Quickly caught on the break, they were 1-0 down after 2 minutes and yet again the boys found themselves behind in a game. The first lesson has to be to start quicker, be switched on from the start, and to stop putting themselves in positions where they need to chase the game!

For the rest of the half, Balham looked like the better footballing side but were not passing it around with the skill, composure and pace we know that they can. For twenty minutes, the Whites had most of the attacks: Jude hit wide from a corner, Max fired wide after an incisive ball from Wilbur, no-one was rushing into the box after a fantastic cross from Max and Wilbur's long-range effort was inches over.

After a defensive error on the half-way line though, the speedy striker was left with a clear run to goal but Jacob outsmarted him. At the other end, Matthieu showed excellent skill to get away a left-footed shot but it was well saved.

Somehow Balham escaped going further behind with two more clean breaks providing simple 1 on 1 chances, which were both saved again.

In the second half, Semi came on to the pitch and his pace made a difference with his first involvement setting up a chance for Jude who shot just wide. Whilst George hooked one just over from a corner, Balham were not patient enough in attack, trying to shoot from distance on too many occasions or trying to play through a congested penalty area. Second lesson is to show more composure and patience in our attacking and work the ball out to the flanks when we can - later in the half that was how our goal came.

Semi created another chance with his tenacity on the wing, but Ethan's shot was excellently blocked when it looked like the equaliser. From our next attack, George's free-kick was diverted towards goal by Semi and we all thought it was in. Somehow this was cleared off the line and the Whites were no closer to getting back in the game.

At the other end, the Reigate striker missed a sitter when the ball bobbled under his feet, but they did score a second after yet more casual defending gave the attacker a simple tap-in despite claims for offside.

In the best move of the match, Balham did get one back after the longest string of passes the boys put together in the whole match. Eventually the ball was worked out to Ethan who put in a beautiful lofted cross for Max to head in.

With the chance to go on and rescue the game again, Balham threw the chance away, conceding a very soft goal when it looked like they had dealt with the original danger. With defenders standing still in the penalty area, the striker had the easiest of chances to seal the game. Third lesson is to sprint and compete for every ball - there were too many occasions today when we were beaten to loose balls by a more determined side.

Although George hit the top of the crossbar at the end, it was too late for Balham to rescue this one and a dispirited bunch trudged off at the end. Fourth lesson is for the boys to be more unified and supportive as a team - there was too much bickering and criticism today on a day when they needed to be more supportive of each other.

With a quarter of the season now gone. Balham sit in a congested mid-table. The boys have the skill and capability to push harder - and need to believe in themselves, showing more energy and commitment together as a unit. With next week off, half-term will end with a tough fixture against unbeaten Sheen - what better way to turn things around and show what they can do.