(This match reports are biased, one sided and probably inaccurate)
BALHAM 1-3 OLD BOYS CLAPHAM
Henderson 6
Breen 48
Belk 69
Balham goal 47
HT 0-1
Wimbledon Common Extensions
2pm kick off
ref: I. Stone
Man of the match: 6. Marc Henderson
Line Up: Harman, Whelan (Kubik 69), Idjiwa, Henderson, Kelly, Horner, McGuire, Walsh, Dundas (Fairbrother 60), Belk, Barrett (Breen 45)
Old Boys Clapham got all three points by utilising the height and power of Marc Henderson and Matt Belk and the guile of Mike Breen. A Marc Henderson header had given OBC a 6th minute lead when Balham FC's Achilles Heel was again on show as they failed to deal with a well worked corner where Andy Dundas chipped a ball to the back post where Henderson was able to head in off the post. Balham made a good fight of the first half and saw one glorious chance wasted when three Balham players were on hand for a tap in but thankfully Balham shot wide. At the other end the Balham keeper made two fantastic saves to stop OBC going further ahead. Manager Peter Joicey was not happy with OBC's pressing game so Mike Breen was introduced as a half time substitute for Dean Barrett. Breen gave away a free kick near the halfway line that resulted in the ball to the back post being flicked past Steve Harman in goal. But within 30 seconds OBC were back in front after a cushioned knock down by Cian McGuire for Mike Breen to hit his 15th goal of the season. Matt Belk powered home a header with twenty minutes left to go to make it 3-1. 3-1 was also the score at Larkhall Park where OBC 2XI beat Ashtead Res thanks to second half goals from Jamie Bradley, David Court and Mahf Chowdhury.
Matt Belk returned from being rested against Park Boys and Dean Barrett kept his place as a result of his hatrick last week. The line up today was Steve Harman in goal. Alex Whelan at right back, Idjiwa Adjido at left back with Marc Henderson again partnered by Mark Kelly at centre back with Grant Burke rested with the midweek semi-final against Stoneleigh Town in mind. Across midfield was Charlie Horner on the right wing with Ian Walsh and Cian McGuire continuing in central midfield and Andy Dundas wide left. Up front skipper Matt Belk was partnered by Dean Barrett. On the bench today was Mike Breen, Joe Kubik and ex-Balham Blazers boy Matt Fairbrother.
Balham FC needed to win to keep their slim promotion chances alive as they run out of league games to play and OBC needed the win to keep in touch with Norton and Kerria Knights who occupy the top two places. Balham were on a run of just three wins in ten since the turn of the year and OBC are on a long unbeaten run. Balham started the day in 3rd place with OBC in 5th place but with several games in hand.
Old Boys Clapham got an early goal thanks to a well worked corner that was taken short to Andy Dundas who floated a left ball to the back post where either Cian McGuire or Matt Belk headed back across goal and Marc Henderson headed in off the post from a tight angle. Marc Henderson’s 5th goal of the season. 6 minutes gone, 0-1.
Balham looked to respond immediately and worked the ball well down OBC’s left hand side where the ball was played neatly inside and the Balham striker hit an effort high and wide from twenty five yards.
Old Boys Clapham aerial ability was always going to cause Balham difficulty and Cian McGuire was unlucky not double the lead on the 12th minute when he powered a header wide of the Balham goal.
Alex Whelan and Charlie Horner combined well on the left and Whelan was able to get into the penalty area but his low shot was comfortably saved by the keeper.
At the other end the Balham right winger got on the end of a well worked ball and his first time shot from the diagonal edge of the area was well struck but did not trouble Steve Harman in goal who made a comfortable save.
Balham were forced to clear off the line on 21 minutes when Dean Barrett made a good turn and snap shot from the edge of the area. Cian McGuire got to the rebound first but his goal bound effort was cleared off the line thanks to a good block by a Balham defender on the line.
Balham started to come into the game more and more and used their extra man in midfield well. Ian Walsh was forced to concede a corner after Alex Whelan was caught out of position as Balham countered. A well flighted ball was met by a Balham player but thankfully the lad planted his header over Steve Harman’s bar.
Balham were starting to apply pressure and had a very good twenty minute spell where some excellent tackles by Mark Kelly, Marc Henderson and Idjiwa Adjido in the box stopped Balham breaking through to Steve Harman in goal.
As OBC were thankful for some respite at the other end Matt Belk lost the ball just outside of the penalty area with everyone pushed forward. Balham flew forward in a wave and had extra men over. A low ball across the OBC penalty should have been converted as three Balham players were lining up to score but the lad who did take the shot on managed to shoot the wrong side of Harman’s goal from six yards out to the relief of everyone watching for OBC.
The closing stages of the half was a bit more promising though as Andy Dundas played a well weighted ball into Belk in the box. Belk held off the defender and got his shot off but he pulled it wide, that would have been a handy goal had that gone in.
Dundas was having something of mixed afternoon as he was sometimes caught out of position thanks to the good movement of the opposition midfield and his final ball choice to Barrett should have had the striker played in on goal but the pass was wayward and over hit and Barrett did well to force a corner by the corner flag such was the pass misplaced. From the corner Ian Walsh hit a low fierce drive from the edge of the area that was excellently saved.
At half time Joicey said that although we were winning we were not in control of this game and our pressing was not as effective as it could be. Joicey introduced Mike Breen for Dean Barrett to give more power and speed up front to help make it more uncomfortable for their back line. Ian Walsh said that OBC players had to match Balham’s movement and make sure that our work rate was as high as theirs. Joicey said that although Balham had got into good positions they only had one shot on target in the half to show for their efforts whereas we have made more chances on goal and will continue to make chances.
Mike Breen’s first action of the game was to give away a soft foul on the half way line. Balham swung the ball to the back post where the ball was flicked past Steve Harman in goal for 1-1 on 47 minutes.
Thankfully the old adage was correct today in that a team is at its most vulnerable after they had just scored. This proved to be the case as Breen rolled the ball home after a good up field ball from Steve Harman was controlled by Cian McGuire in the box and Breen was on hand to tuck away his 15th goal of the season on 48 minutes. 1-2
Breen was instrumental in putting Old Boys Clapham back on the front foot and back in control of this game. Matt Fairbrother was introduced on the left wing for Andy Dundas.
Marc Henderson again nearly extended the lead when he met a Horner corner but his headed went narrowly wide of the Balham post.
A long stoppage occurred as the Balham keeper was forced off by a groin injury and was replaced by the Balham centre back as they were forced to reorganise and this did not help their cause at all.
It was from another dangerous Charlie Horner corner that Matt Belk effectively killed the tie as a contest on 69 minutes when he powered a header into the top corner for his 33rd goal of the season. 1-3
Joe Kubik was introduced into central midfield to maintain the high energy levels in there with Ian Walsh. Cian McGuire dropped to centre back and Mark Kelly moved to right back as Alex Whelan was replaced.
Matt Fairbrother missed a glorious opportunity to put one over his former club when he missed a free header from six yards out. The keeper was nowhere and all he had to do was direct the header on goal and it was in but Fairbrother got under the ball and the effort went over the bar.
Balham’s fuel tank was running on empty as OBC moved forward with Ian Walsh and Charlie Horner causing problems. Walsh maybe could have done better in the 83rd minute when the ball was rolled to him with only the keeper to beat but his turn and shot hit the side netting.
Idjiwa Adjido looking to score his first ever OBC goal hit a speculative effort from forty yards from the left wing but it sailed over the Balham bar but was not too far off.
The referee played ten minutes of stoppage time and Cian McGuire was unlucky to concede a free kick on the edge of the D when he stooped to head the ball but the referee thought that the ball had made contact with the big Irishman’s arm. Up stepped a Balham player but his effort went high and wide to leave Steve Harman untroubled and the final whistle was blown.
Hardly a classic but an interesting contrast in styles. Balham will be a very good side next season with a bit more experience and will continue to be dangerous going forward. Old Boys Clapham have the mix of pace, power and dogged determination. All three goals had an aerial aspect to the play and with players such as Kubik, Breen and Fairbrother to come off the bench make a difference in that we can see games out as other teams tire. It was the three points that mattered today and that is what we achieved. The result puts OBC up two places to 3rd in Division 1 as Shaftesbury Town kept up their good run of late with a 3-1 win at Pilgrims Well which all but end’s their promotion bid.
In other news Old Boys Clapham Reserves moved top of Division Three with a comfortable 3-1 win at Larkhall Park over Ashtead Reserves thanks to goals from Jamie Bradley, David Court and Mahf Chowdhury. Epsom Eagles have several games in hand however and OBC have to keep on winning to be sure of a top two finish.
In League Cup semi-final news 4th division side Crescent Rovers B overcame Battersea Ironsides of Division 2 3-2 to book their place in the League Cup final on Friday 4th May 2012. Our semi-final opponents, Stoneleigh Town, lost their unbeaten league record yesterday as they lost in Division Two 4-0 at home to in-form Tooting Bec Reserves. Perhaps Stoneleigh rested players ahead of our tie on Wednesday night at Raynes Park Vale stadium. 7.30pm kick off, players have to be at the ground for 7pm at the latest. Its two games a week now until the end of April, exciting times.
Peter Joicey
25 March 2012
07736309442
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