OD and OC missing???

The two Balaga players have been called up for international(college hockey) duty and will miss this weeks league game against VanilLa-REAL.



This leaves capt kev in a pickle with two experienced players out. No doubt cover in the form of Damo, Shane and Niell can be called upon and will hopefully be enough to get a result on pitch 1 wednesday night at 8!

Season run in Poll...

It pans out something like Balaga need 3 wins out of 3 to get 7th position...

Can Balaga get the results needed to stay up?
	yarp
	narp

Balaga Tongo 4-2 School Boy Errors

After a deep discussion between Tom, Phil and Kevin at Saturdays beer fest, optimism was again high before this week match. Those tactics were pretty much forgotten because a lot of drink had been consumed. So Phil with the help of an associate, Jim Butler of Almaty Athletic, came up with the idea of a 3-1-1 formation. Deano had still not recovered from the calf injury so Damo Kennedy moved up front/midfield and Shane Deane came along as sub.

The last time these two teams met School Boy Errors came away with a narrow 2-1 victory and tonight's game proved close again. It was well into the first half before School Boy Errors got any clear cut chances. Tongos new formation appeared to be working well. When they got the chance Tom and Kev ran down the wings in support of the sometimes stranded Webz and Damo, although a few chances were created it appeared that Balaga were sticking to the game plan. They continued this even after School Boy Errors scored a soft goal. Unlike most weeks Tongo didnt drop their heads and belief appeared by present for a change. Scoring goals hasn't been a problem for Balaga this season, its been conceding them. Before this game the Cucumbers had scored 24 but leaked 57, so they stuck to the same 3-1-1 formation and it proved a wise decision as two quick goals put Balaga 2-1 up, scored by Webz and Phil O'D, who made a rare run forward.

Some tireless running by Damo up front and knacker'ed legs forced a change with Deano's brother Shane moving into midfield. Balaga were now playing a great counter attack game which eventually paid dividends with Shane scoring his first goal for the Cucumbers. 3-1, a position rarely seen by the FC Balaga Tongo. School Boy Errors were beginning to exert more pressure and left gaps in their defence. An injury picked up by Webz forced the next substitution with Damo coming on and slotting back into the forward role. Within 2 minutes he put Balaga 4-1 up. These dizzying heights were never seen before except when Balagas 2nd team beat some crowd in their 1st season 7-1, but that doesn't really count as none of the current crop of players played that night. Half time soon followed and Balaga's next mission was not to get too big headed as they've been guilty of in previous half time leads.

Second half began with exerted pressure from School Boy Error's. Balaga were pushed further and further back but still looked solid. Eventually the break through came though from an Error's corner kick. After some trapped wind was released by Tom, the Balaga rearguard lost concentration and the set piece was conceded, 4-2. The rest of the half was pretty much the same as it begun. Balaga were defending bravely but were under severe pressure. Blake who was back between the sticks after last weeks heroics had little to do though. A testament to the new formations defensive sturdiness. Tireless running and chasing was done by both Damo and Shane who held the ball superbly to ease the tension in the back line. Phil O'D was playing a great sweeper's role and had the skillful Error's forward in his pocket. Tom was the only defender who was making runs to help the front 2 with Kev staying back to cover for most of the half.

School Boy's were getting more and more frustrated, being 2nd in the table they needed this victory to stay in touch with the runaway leaders, Route 1 Football. The break through never came for them though and frustration spilt over with minutes to go. Kev had the ball in defense and was shielding the long haired asshole for Error's off the ball. This didn't last long as the hippie picked Kev up and threw him like a rag doll to the ground. Tom was quickly over to push the lunatic off the stunned Kev. A scuffle followed between Kev and the hippie before the ref calmed down the bitchy handbags and sent the Error's player to the bench with a red card. Another followed for the other big fella from Error's who proceeded to tell the ref to f*%k off. Error's were down to 4 and Balaga fancied their chances of reducing the poor goal difference they had racked up but time elapsed and the final whistle was blown.

A tremendous 4-2 victory for Balaga with an all round great team performance. Balaga now have 4 points and have still to play the 2 teams just above them. If results go their way and they beat both The Astronauts and The Strawberries, Tongo may have a chance of finishing 6th. Although Tongo have never strung 2 wins back to back, so this may be a tall order indeed.

Balaga Tongo 3-5 Route 1 Football

Due to the injury sustained by Deano last week he was forced to sit out Tongo's match against the league leaders. Damo Kennedy, aka Webzeseseses brother was drafted in to play in goals. Blake moved into midfield, a position he's all too familiar with as this was the position he began his Balaga career, before moving into goals to cover for former player and long time fan Bundy(joint inventor for BOC). Tom O'C partnered Phil O'D in defense with Kevin B in midfield and Webz up front.

Another good start from Balaga was squashed after some slack defending from midfield and defense. Easy balls were given to the league leaders and Balaga paid the price and found themselves 2-0 down soon after kick off. The ship was steadied though as Tom O'C got his 4th goal of the champaign with a sweetly struck shot which was set up by Blaker's. Webz was having a difficult time up front getting free from his marker while elementary mistakes were being made all over the pitch by Tongo. An attempt to run the ball out of defense saw Balaga go 3-1 down. Soon afterwards Blake made his 2nd assist of the game for Webz to score his 9th goal of the season which moved him to 7th in the overall goal scorers charts. Route 1 football began to push further and further forward and left gaps in defense which the Cucumbers capitalized on. The ball landed to Blake in midfield and he slid the ball through to Kevin all on his own in Route 1's back line. Kevin scored with only the keeper to beat. 3-3, Blakes 3rd assist of the match and Kevin's 3rd goal of the season. Once again though Balaga ended the half in arrears with a 4th goal for Route 1 before the break.

Balaga contemplated moving Blake into goals for the second half as Webz was finding it tough up front to get free from the big Route 1 defender who was doing a good marking job. It was decided to leave Damo in goals and Blake move up front with Webz dropping back into a midfield role. A much closer second half again saw little chances. Phil hit the post at one stage as he moved into a more attacking role. Balaga were caught a few times and nearly paid the price as a neat one two carved open the defense and left Damo stranded. The subsequent shot beat Damo but Webz got back to handle on the line and concede a penalty. A yellow card followed which saw Webz sidelined for 10 minutes. Things didnt look as bleak soon afterwards though as the Route 1 player saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Damo. A barrage of Route 1 attacks saw save after save by Damo and last ditch tackles by Tom O'C. Eventually though the break through came and Balaga conceded their 5th of the game. 5-3 being the final score. Another disappointment but a heavy training session is planned for Saturday in the Franciscan Well where tactics will be discussed and probably forgotten.

The norm these days seems to be that Balaga dont turn up for the first half of the game. An issue which has plagued their entire existence really.

Balaga Tongo 4-6 Maih platini

A new formation and switch of tactics which involved actual defending and pressurizing the opposition proved a masterstroke of sorts for Balaga this week. Coming up against the team who gave Balaga their most embarrassing defeat of the season earlier on in the campaign things needed to change. Tongo who were missing 3 of their 1st team that day due to "techno day" and drinking obligations, needed some revenge for the 7-0 defeat.
This time however proved to be a far more even game as Balaga were full strength albeit without any subs. Phil O'D decided to move into a defensive role alongside Deano. Blake was moved back into goals and Tom O'C and Kevin B pushed into midfield. This more structured side where everyone knew their role was in theory to stable the flow of goals being leaked. Theory has a way of kicking Balaga in the ass and so it proved again after Miah platini took a 2-0 lead after sustained Balaga pressure. Webz was playing a great loan striker role up front with Kev and Tom supporting when able but chances were squandered and Miah capitalized with two swift counter attacks. The ship was steaded however and eventually Webz found a breakthrough. The big Maih defender was finding the Tongo striker difficult to handle and Balaga were creating more and more chances. Halftime couldn't come soon enough for the hard working midfield as legs began to seaze up.
The second half and Balaga began where they left off with both Tom and Kev hounding the midfield and Webz working tirelessly up front. The inclusion of Phil in defense proved a master stroke as his coolness and ability to hold the ball opened lots of opportunities for the attack. Deano was solid again alongside O'D even though he had to play most of the match with a suspected calf injury. Things began to look up for Tongo as two goals for Tom saw Balaga take the dizzy heights of a lead but short lived as Maih score a screamer from outside the area. Things didnt all go their way and as usual Blake had to save Tongo on more than one occasion. A quick kickout saw Webz give Balaga the lead once more with 6 minutes left. Could this be the first Balaga victory of the season? The answer is no as a few more swift goals saw Maih take the points. But all in all a better team performance.

Balaga 2 - Majestic Rovers 6ish?

another wednesday and another mauling... nothing suprising about the result... webz and phil continued theyre prolific run... fair play... blake played outfield as damo went between the sticks again... desperate defending at times was balagas downfall, nothing suprising about this either!