Far from perfect Balaga pull back Athletic

Apologies to those who actually read this site but last year was a disaster and the inspiration to write these reports just wasn't there, so to that one reader from Malaysia or wherever, I'm sorry, we'll try to keep up this year! Right, here goes.....

The decision to drop down a division was a tough one but the recession had depleted the once sexy fast one touch footballing side so had to be done. In the past year Balaga have lost some great players including Whifty, Parker, Tristan and team captain Tom O'C. A burden just too big to compete in the top flight. 

First up for the mighty Cucumbers were Far From Athletic, a side Tongo never played before so a step into the unknown. Everything seemed to be going rosy in the first 5 minutes as Tongo controlled the ball, making a one-two-three-four move from defence all the way to attack which ended in a Webz shot saved by the Athletic keeper. The move included Deano then JD-Webz-JD-Webz emmm JD-Webz shot . The move seemed to inflate the heads of Balaga as they fell into the old habit of thinking "Jeasus, we'll walk this". 

The following kick-out lobbed over Deano's and Kev's heads and was buried by the FFA striker to make it 1-0 to FFA. They managed a second thanks to a handball which wasn't seen by the usually spot on ref, before new kid Slatts found the net for Balaga with a bouncy bob-bely pinger of a shot, that somehow made its way past the keeper in the FFA goal. He added a second before half time and Balaga were pretty damn happy with the 2-2. 

The second half was much the same as the first with FFA going up 4-2 after some sloppy misuse of the ball at times by the Togolese bai's. FFA were first to most balls and looked to be heading for the victory until 5 minutes to go, Balaga decided "well fook it, may as well try to get a draw". The 3rd goal for Tongo came from the boot of Phil O'D and with nearly the last kick of the game John D hit a rasper into the roof of the FFA net to make it a respectable return to the second tier and 1 point on the board. 

VIVA LA BALAGA!!!!!!!!