Balaga fail to connect as Abtran take the points

Balaga faced Abtran Connects for the first time in their history so went into this game with little knowledge of the team. Webz watched a video of them play some tournament but that's all they had to go on. Tom was out due to work so Greener was back for his third "final match" for Balaga. Let's hope he has a few more last matches though as the cucumbers need him. Parker played a hockey match during the week but didn't make the Balaga match as he needed some rest, so debutant Rory O'Brien was drafted in as a replacement which left the team as:

The match kicked off and Tongo looked like they were up for it. Phil, Dave and JD were linking up well and Damo's kick out boots were back on, giving Balaga and Dave an opportunity to win some flick ons.

GOAL!!!
The opener came from such a move which ended at the feet of David W who took a shot which ricoshade off a defender and into the goals. It was a stroke of good luck Balaga have needed in front of the goals.

Unfortunately for Balaga the lead lasted only a few minutes as a high ball into the box was contested by the scot up front for Abtran and Kev. The scot got the better and powered the header past Damo. Broderick wasn't happy with the challenge but the ref was having none of it. Luckly for Balaga though he wasn't paying much attention to Dave's high ball challenges down the other end either as the big man wasn't afraid to leave the elbow/shoulder of foot in, creating chances for JD, Webz and Phil.

GOAL!!!
Balaga's second came from the left hand side and involved Webz who passed it to Phil. O'D struck a low left footer into the far bottom corner. Boooo-Yeah!!!!!!!!!


Once more Balaga switched off in defence though and equalized after Dave G had misjudged a header. Rory came on for Webz and showed some good touches to begin a few Balaga attacks, but couldnt do anything to stop Abtran scoring another 2 before half-time. One from a free kick Balaga didn't defend quick enough, and another from an Abtran break. FC Balaga Tongo 2-4 Abtran Connects

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Although Balaga were down by 2 they were the better side in the half and had the more posession, but couldnt convert or stop leaking in defence. They all agreed that more of the same was needed, attacking wise and began the second half with a burst of pace by Broderick not seen since his primary school days! After blocking a attempted pass from an Abtran defender Kev found himself with nothing but the sideline and the keeper in front of him. Dave called for it in the centre and the wise option was probably to pass but as the defender doesnt find himself in such areas too often he decided to shoot across the goals with his left. The effort went across the goals alright but wide of the target and out of reach of Dave.

GOAL!!!

Balagas 3rd came from a high ball into the Connects box which saw Dave W, the keeper and another guy challenge for it. Dave got there first the score his and Balaga's 3rd. The Abtran player complained it clearly hit the hand but the ref allowed it. 2-1 Balaga!!!

This was followed up by efforts from Webz and Dave but all the early pressure came to nothing as Balaga llet in a succession of defensive howlers. It was 8-2 by the time Dave got his hat-trick.

GOAL!!!
Dave collected the ball in midfield and put the head down. He made about 10 meters before firing a bullet into bottom right hand corner, giving the keeper no chance.

Final Score
FC Balaga Tongo 4-8 Abtran Connects

Its still unbelievable Balaga didn't take something from this game. They really had the defence under pressure but simple cant seem to master the midfield being linked to both defence and attack, but little help was given to them in fairness as the defence at times could have been mistaken for two statue of davids side by side. The keeper on the Abtran side didn't seem too confident either but little actual shots hit the target.

Regarding future matches, its gonna be a tough season for Balaga unless they can sort out their ringer problem. The ball holding midfielder is the missing piece of the jigsaw but with the likes of Dawson and Brown both playing 11 a side, the amount of ball players available to the pool of Balaga related friends is dwindling fast and the options are few and far between.

On the bright side though, Tom O'C and Parker were out and if they played I've a feeling the result could have been different.

Injured Balaga put the smile on the other side of douglas's face!

A new season for Balaga saw them face douglasmortage.ie for the 3rd season running. Injuries to Broderick and Parker saw Dawson and Greener come into the saide. Damo's one game per week rule was in play so Phil had to cover the sticks.

• Douglas kick off but Balaga begin the better with inspired Dave W chasing everyone in red down forcing douglasmortage.ie to lose possession to Dawson out the left wing. He shoots but his effort flies across the goals and wide.
• A dodgy clearance by Balaga's defence falls to Chen who helps it down the left wing. Its given back to Chen but Tom O'C shuts the door and clears his lines.
• A dull 5 minutes was brought back to life as Douglas create a chance down to wing but the resulting cross is cleared by Greener. Balaga win the resulting throw but nothing comes of it.
• Balaga lose position from their own throw in and the resulting break by douglas is finished off by a fine save by stand in keeper Phillip O'D, down to his left.
• The resulting corner lands to Chens feet but both Greener and Webz combine to clear the trouble.
• More douglas pressure brings Phil back into the game, this time down to his right with John D mopping up.
•  Another douglas attack is broken down by JD who broke down the left and squared it to Dave W in the center. The big man ran out of space however and all he could manage was a cross straight into the hands of the keeper.
• Resulting kick-out is fluffed by that smiley fella to Dawson who controls it with his left which takes 1 douglas defender outta the game. Steadied himself and hit a left foot curler which just goes wide of the left post.
• Increased Balaga pressure results in a series of throw-ins down Tongo's left wing. From the last of the throws Dawson controls and passes it back to Tom who helps it to JD in the center. Duggan neatly side footed it back out the left to Webz who turns and fires one across the box, but the keeper manages to put it out for a corner.
•  Balaga swith off for a period and leave Chen unmarked out the left. A douglas throw in finds the mortgage striker but he fluffs his effort.
•  Alarm bells for Balaga as Chen has another effort. This time he fires a bullet past Phils left but wide.

GOAL!!!!!!!

• From a douglas kick out Greener rises above everyone to win the header. Chen cant control it and Balaga win a throw in out the right wing. Dave W decides to take it and find JD in the center. JD controlled it well with his right thigh and volleyed a screamer into the douglas keepers left hand post. douglasmortgage.ie 0-1 FC Balaga Tongo.

GOAL!!!!!!!

• A shot from Tom is saved. A resulting throe from Balaga is lost and douglas break finding Chen down the right. One turn and he put Webz out of the game, shot down the right and with his left found the far corner of the Balaga net. douglasmortgage.ie 1-1 FC Balaga Tongo.

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GOAL!!!!!!!

• A poor start to the second half of the match see's nothing happen within the first 8 minutes except for a goal by douglas.douglasmortgage.ie 2-1 FC Balaga Tongo.
• A high ball into the Balaga box causes a comedy of errors and eventually Dawson clears for a douglas throw which results in nothing. It appears that Balaga are suffering from the bare 7 players and are badly in need of that second wind.
• Chen collects and fires away, just missing the right hand post.
• Phils kick-outs begin to find their range and Dave knocks down a few headers which result in some Balaga pressure.
• Balaga seem to be finding that second wind as a nice move between Dawson and Webz, results in a cross to JD who blazes over the bar, but the chances are coming.
• Dawson begins to pull the strings in midfield and Balaga begin to find him. Two through balls to Webz and JD are just over hit by the midfielder.
• Last five minute of the game, Webz wins a throw out the left.Tom throws it into the box but douglas clear.
• Phil launches a long one from another Douglas clearance. Dave W forces a throw in. Tom takes it and logs it into Webz who swivels but misfires. The keeper half clears as far as Tom who's shot is blocked down by Chen. Great pressure by Balaga.
• douglas lose possession from their own free kick and Dave W collects and sprints up the field. His run across the box forces a free kick to Balaga outside the douglas area.

GOAL!!!!!!!

• Dawson loops the free kick into the box but its cleared. Dawson collects the ball and shoots. The shots on target but high. The keeper save however when he could have left it over. The rebound lands to JD who somehow manages to get his right foot to it, sending it towards goal but off the post. Luckily for Balaga the rebound went across the goal mouth and right onto Webzes favoured right foot to make it 2-2!!! douglasmortgage.ie 2-2 FC Balaga Tongo.
• A few odd chances went to way of Balaga after that but no more goals as it ended 2-2. 

A fair result as both teams had chances. It was a first game for some player in about 6 weeks so fair play to them for sticking it out and assuring Balaga's first point of the season and only 2 points behind the leaders.

Balaga 1 Ma Duleas 99

The game was postponed and postponed and while Balaga did nout over the christmas period to bolster their squad, Ma Duleas obviously did as they were a step ahead throughout.

Missing 3 key first team players due to the late notice and capper leg did not help the cucumbers though as they went up against a full squad of Duleaers.

G- Damo

D-Broderick, Green

M-David W , O'Callaghan, Duggan

F- Rob Rose


It was new recruit Rose that scored Balaga's only goal to make it 1-1 early in the first half, but by half time it was 4/5 to that 1. Although David W whould of scored a volley from the half way line that almost hit the clubhouse. wa.

The second half was fruitless although chances were scarce there was a few close efforts. As this game meant f all in the scheme of things Balaga threw goalkeeper Damo Kennedy upfront in the closing 5 minutes and he was flyin it almost scoring an all, should of ba!

All in All a pointless match for FC Balaga Tongo except for getting a few heads back in the game before the 2010 season kicks off.

Balaga ended up 5th in the league id say if not 6th - the league table is gone now so we will never know thankfully.

BRING ON 2010!