Friar prayers earn unwelcome Draw

After a disastrous result last week, Balaga had to get back on track and couldn’t have hoped for a better fixture on paper. Frairs Walk Celtic were bottom of the table with only 1 points all season and were expected to be an easy opponent after last week’s table toppers.

Tom O’C was still out in Barcelona, Dumphy was needed to help his Dad out and with Parker and Dave both in London, Dave “Greener” Green was called back to plug last week’s leaky defence, allowing JD to move back into midfield with Phil up front.

Celtic took kick off and began the better side, with good one touch passing and movement from their midfield. They took advantage of Balaga’s slow start and took an early lead through their midfielder with a great effort outside the box, giving Damo no chance in goals. This didn’t inspire Tongo who once more seemed to be elsewhere early on in the game. Webz came off the bench and Tongo started to string a few passes together and a few efforts just off target. But 1 became 2 for Celtic as a another shot from far out deflected off Webz, under Kevs foot and wrong footed Damo to rattle the net.  

GOAL!!! Balaga Tongo 1-2 Frairs Walk Celtic

Balaga finally started to play ball and with the last kick of the first half the ball landed to john Duggan about 15 yards out, who struck it on the volley to see his effort fly into the top left of the Friars net.

HALF TIME FC Balaga Tongo 1-2 Frairs Walk Celtic

A stern talk at half time saw Balaga pile on the pressure on the Celtic goal after the second half kick off. Shot after shot was saved by the keeper, who managed to stand in the same position for most of them and just get a foot or hand to the ball each time. It was getting frustrating for Tongo and Frairs defence was playing some heroic stuff, just clearing the ball long to release some Tongo pressure. One of these clearances landed to the young lad up front who rounded Kev, and buried it past Damo to break Tongo hearts and make it 3-1.

GOAL!!! Balaga Tongo 2-3 Frairs Walk Celtic

All seemed lost but not long afterwards Balaga were back in it thanks to a calm head from Phil O’D. He collect the ball outside the Frairs box, turned one guy.. then dummied the shot with his right onto his left side and smacked it with outside of right boot into bottom left!!

Tempers heated and more Tongo pressure was starting to find cracks in the Frairs defence, but Damo was called into 2 top class saves late on to keep Tongo in it. Corner followed by corner followed by throw from both wings ended in shots rained down on the Friars goals but Keeper and defender line clearances meant Celtic were hanging on.

GOAL!!! Balaga Tongo 3-3 Frairs Walk Celtic

It was a throw in on Balaga right wing just outside the Frairs box. JD lined it up while Webz hassled the Celtic defender and was pulled down in the box, Phil turned to the ref and shouted "YOU SAW THAT REF" to which the ref shouted "JOHN” and warned the player to cut it out. The ball ended up with a throw out the left and once more where Greener threw it to Phil, who controlled it and hit a shot on goal, meanwhile Webz was again HAULED to the ground, and without warning pointed to the spot!!

After a lot of arguing from the Celtic players Phil stepped up.. slightly nervy..

Phil O’D – “once I hit I instantly thought "SHIT, MISSED" but it pinged into the top corner.. actually couldn’t have been any more into the top corner if i picked it up and placed it there..

A lot of player hand bag issues began to crop into the game and the ref decided to blow it up early, much to the annoyance of the Tongo side, who all in all felt it more like a loss than a draw, but other results went their way and the title is still on.

CAPTIANS VIEW

We were muck in tom's absence. Struggled defensively against racing. Couldn't finish our dinner last night. my biggest concern is people's attitude and hunger to win. This needs to be addressed. Next week we will have a team meeting before the match and if I don't feel that hunger from anyone they won't start. People need to get their heads in the fucking game. Everyone thought we were going to walk all over the ba's last night and that's what really fucked us. Damo said last night that this lot beat us the season before last and they could do it again...but of coarse no one listened. We had players talking about how many goals they were going to score, players who would only move if the ball was within 2 feet of them and players who tried to see how many times they could touch the ball before they got tackled. We lost every 50 50 ball. The ball would break in the midfield and it was like don't worry about it someone else will get it. The attitude only changed when we were in trouble and even then not enough. This doesn't go for everyone playing but most. That game last night could easily be the game that could cost us dearly.

As for our title ambitions.... at present not a chance in hell. We are very lucky that other results went our way. If the lot of us don't cop on we will be lucky to finish above friar's. And you can print that.....