STATS UPDATE - Jan-Apr 2010

FC Balaga Tongo ended up third in the league but with 67 goals scored it was they're second highest goalscoring record in history. Webz broke his own Balaga scoring record in the January to April Season and playing as a swashbuckling centre midfielder for most of the season it is a credit to the player. Duggan came in second with a commendable 13 goals as he was played as much as possible in a attacking midfielder role as the early leader and striker O'Driscoll finished with 12. David W the other striker was 4th with 9 as all 4 has 1 goal per game or better records.

Check out the chart below to see how it all sizes up! [CLICK image to make LARGE]

Passage Shut Down.

FC Balaga Tongo were the latest team to benifit points wise from Passage Rejects going into administration and therefore not having a team in the second half of the season.

This leaves Balaga on 2 points with Dulleas who got the better of 4th placed Mortgage 5-4. Temple inn have had a resurgence moving up to 18 points now 2 behind them. 5th place Abtran are Balaga's final opponents and hopefully the cucumbers can seal victory and second spot, although a favour from Temple Inn would be handy as they play Dulleas next Wednesday.

Far from Dull as Balaga shine.

After the very disappointing loss to QEF Global the previous week, Balaga knew they were out of the title race. But a game against Ma Dulleas was just the tonic to get the team back together playing footy and getting as many points out of this season as possible. Gary Breen was rumoured to be playing before the game but this turned out to be untrue as the full Cucumber squad was available, maybe most importantly formation wise goal keeper Damo Kennedy was back after playing house down in Kerry and ditching his teammates the week before!

The game plan was to have Tristan and David W to go at theyre backs from the start, chasing down everything and try to ware them down and not give them time to pick passes. JD John Duggan and ODriscoll would then come on and do the same up front. Webz and Parker were behind them and would clean up everything in midfield as Broderick and OCallaghan would try to mark their strikers out of the game.

In reality something kinda like that happened...

Ma Dulleas were kept pretty quiet and although Joe, Biffo, Nala and Heno made breaks they were usually snuffed out before causing any danger to the Balaga goal. Damo was on hand when there was any shots though as he was making saves left right and centre with all his limbs. Balaga were doing well on the break and were 3 goals up before they knew it.

The first came from Parker who fired a great long distance effort from the rights side. The keeper looked to get a hand to it but this only made things worse as the power in the shot caused the keeper to knock it straight into his own net. PEOW FLAP.

Then it was Hurley's turn. A long high ball to the front pair and David W took it down Berbatov stule and layed it off for an incoming Hurely who smashed his half volley into the top right corner. DINK BAM.

The third was another quick break, Parker made headway down the right channel and held back from firing off another shot as David W , OCallaghan and Hurley were all shouting for it on the back post. It was OCallaghan who got the touch, and it was an easy side foot as the ball from Parker had the defense and keeper beat already. WHOOSH PING.



JD and Phil were on at this stage and continued to press. Seeing his oppurtunity and being one that doesn't like not to score, Webz forced the fourth a few minutes before half time, gathering the ball on left he put it on his good peg and wanged a nice effort at the Dulleas goal. The shot like Parkers was slightly high but the power had the keeper confused and deciding to deal with it instad of leaving it go over he flapped it down into his net also. BANG PLOP.

Lamp the link for full size images, video lowlights coming soon!

Half time came and Balaga were pumped. It looked like it was going to be the 2nd time beating Ma Dulleas after the mauling at the end of last season. There was still work to do though and any comeback would have to quenched as Dulleas stars were sure to be up for the second half.

That they were and Balaga were under a lot of pressure finding it hard to hold onto the ball for any long periods. Two goals from Dulleas followed but in between these Balaga were limiting their opposition to long shots. Damo had no fear as he came out to gather the ball when it did go behind his defenders.

The cucumbers continued to battle hard and it was JD who sealed the victory as he was at the end of another Balaga break away. Tristan making the run and winning the throw down the right picked it up fast and saw JD waiting at the top Dulleas box. His throw was pinpoint and JD obliged with a neat touch into the net to make it five. WANG TIP.

The win left Balaga joint second with Ma Dulleas, ahead on head-to-head, but behind on goal difference. This ensured QEF were champions as neither team can catch them at this point with their final game against Passage Rejects a walk over.

Balaga's attempt to go Global shattered

With Balaga’s biggest match in 2 or 3 seasons about to take place, keeper Damo Kennedy dropped the BoB Deep bomb and decided to stay in Kerry with his woman/friend for an extra day and only informed captain Tom O'C that morning.

This left Balaga high and dry and as a result Kev was taken from defence and placed in goal, with JD dropping back into defence from midfield. It affected Balaga’s balance and although they took the lead, they lost the match 4-1(Dave W getting the goal), mainly down to players being out of position and the team never settling correctly. 

It left the Balaga team with only 2nd place to play for which made it too depressing to write this blog for a week. Tongo lied 3^rd in the table after the match, 4 points behind QEF and 3 behind Ma Duleas. 

Mothaf*%kers

Temple No Place of Solitude as Balaga Torment Tigers.

It was a cool evening in Garryduff last night as Balaga lined out to face the Temple Inn Tigers, a team they edged victory against 7-6 earlier in the campaign. David W was back so it was a full squad of 9 for only the second time this season.

The start of the match was quiet and it was the cucumbers that went 1-0 down as they needed to wake up everywhere. O'Driscoll was causing problems up front and Tristan supporting him was getting on the ball as well looking for the break through. At times the Tigers seemed overrun as JD and Webz came from midfield to support the front two and soon Balaga equalised through Duggan as Hurley found him in the centre of the box with a pinpoint throw and the header was straight into the far corner past a flapping goalkeeper. In fact the goalkeeper was their usual best player stuck in goals for 20minutes as Temple's regular keeper was absent.

As soon as he came out field he was causing danger for the Tongolese and made it 2 for Temple Inn as the defenders struggled with his pace and strength. Duggan then got involved again as it was his shot came of the keeper onto the crossbar and into David W's path, the striker just on a minute before for O'Driscoll happily knocked it in. More Balaga pressure and a free kick was earned 15 yards out in the centre of the pitch, Duggan hammered his effort through the wall, a lurking Parker, attempting to break his 5 game goal duck, blocked the keepers view and the ball found its way through the two of them and into the net. Tristan got himself got on the score sheet. Breaking down the right wing he picked his spot in the opposite corner to make it 4-2 at half time.

After sorting out how to defend against the two front men and the Rory Delap like throws from the strong looking earringed chap at the back for Tigers, Broderick and O'Callaghan seemed much more comfortable. Damo though was called into action on occasion and no more so than when the Tigers striker turned and whipped a fine effort at the top right corner, Damo flung himself and got his fist to it to put the ball over the bar and Balaga were safe again. Super Save! Duggan didn't have the same luck as the first half though and his best opportunity saw the midfielder fire high high high.

Webz on a goalscoring streak of late then finished off Temple Inn in real style with 2 good goals. The first came from a throw in on the left as Webz gave it to Parker who chested it down for his midfield partner and Webz duley obliged by hammering it high inside the near post. The second was opportunistic if anything else as the Temple Inn defense were confused Webz picked up the ball between two men and strode through on goal "thinking David W is a defender, struck it early between the keepers legs" and 6-2 FC Balaga Tongo.

Other results saw Ma Dulleas held to a 4-4 draw against Abtran, to the delight of the Balaga faithful! QEF pipped DouglasMortgage.ie 2-1, a draw would of been better! And finally and surprisingly the Friars ran out 5-0 winners against Passage.

It was an excellent team performance on the night and if Balaga can keep playing together like this they could still be challenging for the title come the end of the season. Big games loom for the cucumbers though with league leaders QEF Global up next and then second placed Ma Dulleas before games against Passage Rejects and Abtran Connects.

VIVA LA BALAGA!

No charity for Friars as Balaga hit em for 9

After the Paddy's day break Tongo were back in action against bottom of the table side Frairs Walk Celtic. No slip up's for the cucumbers was the thoughts before the match and the 3 points should be gettable. Whifty was out due to work duties but other than that it was a full team...

1-0 FC Balaga Tongo
Balaga started brightly with JD Webz, Tristan and Parker commanding the Celtic back line, and it wasn't long before Tongo took a deserved lead through Tristan, who got the ball somewhere on the right, turned and scored..... i think!

2-0 FC Balaga Tongo
1 became 2 as once more Tristan collected the ball out the right and hit a low hard shot pas the keeper. Webz was lurking on the Frairs goal line and tapped it to guarantee the goal and take his tally to 11 for the season.

3-0 FC Balaga Tongo
JD got his first off the evening from a neatly taken volley with his right which the keeper swan dived at but missed. Soon afterwards Damo came to collect a ball in the box and got clattered into the back for some Frairs fella. The keeper was out for a few minutes but luckly for Balaga made a full recovery and was fit to play the rest of the match. The knock in the back did nothing to hinder his kick outs though as he was continuously finding his targets in midfield which was setting up plenty of chances for the Togolese attack.

4-0 FC Balaga Tongo
Balaga relaxed a bit after the third goal and both Tom and Kev started to make forward runs. Parker was doing a great job of dropping into the back line for cover whenever they did. On this particular occasion it was Kev's turn to venture up front. Webz collected the ball from a JD throw in, and nutmegged some feen to Kev. The Balaga defenders first touch was questionable, his second also questioned by Webz after the game, but I maintain it was pure class! He pushed the ball out to the right with a defender closing him down, fainted to shot with his left which burnt the Celtic defender and unleashed an unstoppable right footed into the Frairs net. The word "unstoppable" is used lighty here though as it wasn't the strongest of shots but the keepers calamity swan dive over the ball made it look half deacent!

5-0 FC Balaga Tongo
There was time for one more before the break, this time from star front man Phil O'D. Parker who was having a fine game, put phil free down the right. The big man let it run passed his Henry styleeeeeeee and smashed it into the bottom left across the goal! A one sided first half was called to an end with the only real Frairs effort coming from a free kick they rattled the crossbar with.

At the half time break Balaga found it hard to concentrate on tactics and instead commented on the lookers playing on pitch 3 as Plain White T's were getting mangled by Raiders in the ladies match. Evertually they got their heads back into the Tongo match and went out for the second half...

6-0 FC Balaga Tongo
The second half kicked off and soon enough put another score on the board. JD getting his second of the game from a corner from Phil.

7-0 FC Balaga Tongo
JD hat-trick!!! A super kick out from Damo landed at Tristans feet who found Phil one on one with the keeper. The striker unselfishly squared it to JD who had an empty goal to tap into.

8-0 FC Balaga Tongo
Goal numero eighto came from another corner. Phil probably took it. Webz describes it - "Corner, Scramble, ball in air, four yard volley, Goal". Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

9-0 FC Balaga Tongo
The final icing on the cake came from Phil once more. Webz once more describes it - ""Phil runs around 6 million feens (maybe 2 or 3) trys to pass it to duggan at the back post but the keeper intercepts and I smash it through the empty net. It proceeds to hit an orphan in the face and kills him!*".

*No orphans were killed during the playing of this match...

With all the goals described its time to mention that this was a momentous game for FC Balaga Tongo.... For about 10 seasons, 4 years or so they had never, NEVER managed a clean sheet. Big up the 3 bai's in defence, Damo, Tom, and Kev who have battled so long for that first 0, but none of it would have been achievable without the great work from the midfield and attack who always tracked back, a thank you must also go to the players parents for conceiving the team and Paul Scott who mangled Togo and Congo together to give FC Balaga Tongo its birth!

With douglas beating Abtran 12-2 and Ma Duleas kicking QEF's ass 9-1 the top couldn't be closer....

Balaga Come Out Of Arrears To Put Mortgage On Hold

FC Balaga Tongo arrived to Garryduff last night with a full squad of 9 players and in a great run of form to go up against a formidable DouglasMortgage.ie side containing danger man Chen, scorer of 22 goals in 9 games this season. A tough task but one the Cucumbers were hungry to get past so they could get one step closer to the Division 1 title which is a real possibility for the Tongolese side.

The game kicked off with this formation which Balaga have become settled with in the last few weeks. As usual it took a few minutes up warm up into the game. Passes were made and passes were missed, as tackles flew in and Balaga struggled at the beginning to deal with Mortgages formation. But they did deal with it and when they broke forward, looked dangerous! Webz struck a fine daisy cutter from outside the box and it looked to be going in off the post but David W made sure as he swooooped in to make it 1-0, touching the ball in just inside the right post. This gave Balaga a bit of confidence and maybe over confidence as they put pressure on the opposition, but just when Balaga were at their most vulnerable as Broderick lost a contact and had to go off and JD had little time to get on, this was when Chen pounced breaking free down the right channel as O'Calllaghan looked to catch him at the edge of the box he cannoned the ball off Chen or the other way around and the ball went in past Damo. 1-1! Despite this setback the pressure continued on Mortgages goal with Webz, and Parker asserting themselves in midfield, and Hurley coming on in front to link them with ODriscoll . OCallaghan then made an interception in the left back position broke down the line and slipped the ball inside to O'Driscoll who silkily skipped passed the midfield and made space for himself to fire a rocket with his right which was blocked down - but OD kept his poise and placed a left foot shot past the flapping Mortgage stopper. 2-1! HALF TIME.

After catching their breath they lined up once again with one change, Webz coming off for Broderick and JD moving into midfield alongside Parker. More action ensued at both ends and the biggest blunder of the game came as Chen broke free again down the right channel and as he fired his shot across goal a covering OCallaghan swung a blatant arm at the ball to knock it over the bar. Although on retrospect the ball was going to go over anyway and ironically this is probably what kept him on the pitch instead of receiving an expected yellow and sin-binning. Chen put the resulting penalty low under Damo who got his direction right but couldn't get down quick enough. 2-2! Soon after this a Mortgage midfielder struck an unstoppable volley which went through the packed box and past Damo who probably didn't have much of a view. 2-3! Disaster but not the worst as OCallaghan was once again called up by the ref for a fowl, this time a few yards outside the balaga box. The free went low and just to the left of the 3-man wall and into the Cucumbers net. 4-2!

Balaga didn't deserve this scoreline and looked determined to prove it. Pushing forward again, with Broderick making runs from the back frequently to add to Mortgages troubles, the ball was kept in Douglas's half as corner after throw after corner were taken to no avail. But it was the ever instinctive Webz who got the third, the ball coming to him just inside the left side of the Mortgage box he did something un-orthodox with his new yellow left boot and it came off as the  ball crept through a balls width between post and keeper. 4-3! More substitutions were made by Balaga as they used their nine men as best they could. Another scramble in the box resulted in the equalizer as the ball flew over Webz'z shoulder facing away from the goal on the top left of the Mortgage box he caught it with a standing overhead kick and the ball looped into the far corner for the equalizing goal. 4-4! A mass pitch invasion followed and the final whistle came soon later but not before Broderick could pull off the greatest cheeky back heel this reporter has ever seen and David W missing a chance of the game rushing an effort and firing it wide after taking defender and goalkeeper out of the picture in a great move. A fair result on the night though, as no winner could be found at second time of trying for these two teams this season.

Unfortunately QEF won their game against the Tigers 5-4 to stay clear at the top by 2 from Ma Dulleas who got a clean 5-0 victory over a sliding Passage Rejects side. In the other game Abtran and Friars Walk played out a 5-5 draw. This leaves Balaga equal on points with Mortgages and in 4th position on goal difference, 4 points off leaders QEF.

With a week off next Wednesday for Patricks day celebrations it gives Balaga a chance to regroup and hopefully nobody will get any drunken or otherwise injuries during the break before they come back to play Friars Walk Celtic on the 24th. With almost as many goals scored as last seasons with only 8 games played and Parker due to break his worst goalscoring form for the club and with David W and Hurley hungry to impress and add to their goal tally's, things are looking good for FC Balaga Tongo in the second half of the season. Hopefully next time they won't get so fla'd by the ref either.

Team bonding at Cork City Foras's first home game in Turners cross on Friday night.

VIVA LA BALAGA.

Rejects passage opened by cucumbers............ 11 times!!!

Gameweek 7 for the cucumbers and after last week’s terrific victory over MaDuleas moral was high. Passage Rejects were in a less than confident mood though as they came off the back of a 10-5 loss the previous week at the hands of douglasmortage. David W was back in the squad but Tristan’s ribs were still in a bad way so the team was:

Balaga really started this game in great form and at the half time mark had a healthy lead. Damo had little or nothing to do in goals. Although Passage had 1 or 2 handy players their all out attack attitude got them unstuck on more than one occasion. Damo, Tom  and Kev were still in search for that elusive first clean sheet and with help from Webz and Parker, it looked to be on the cards. Both tracked back whenever possible and along with JD and Whifty, the midfield looked rock solid defending and dangerous in attack. Phil once more had a stormer up front, although not getting on the score sheet as much as the previous weeks he was laying off some brilliant passes, unlocking the Rejects defence from which the midfield took full advantage. The final score of 11-1 proves as much!

Balaga Goals!!!!!!

1- A throw or cross from the right wing from Phil made the keeper rush out and attempt to grab the ball, only for JD to reach it first and bang it into the net! Protest from the Rejects didn’t convince the ref that their keeper had been fouled and the goal stood…

 2- Goal number 2 came from Webz. Scoring a rare right footer this season, from the left side he kicked a right footed across the keeper to nestle in the far corner.

3- Webz got his second of the night thanks to Phil pressurising the Passage defence; Webz talked it through at the post match interview: “they mess up and the it’s a race to the ball between me and the defender and I get a less than convincing touch on it but it goes in all the same”. A modest reflection on the goal, cause from where I stood it looked a classy finish!

4- Balaga’s forth came from the cucumbers striker Phil O’D, he managed to get free down the right wing and hammered the ball low and straight at the Rejects keeper who let it through his legs. 4-0.

5- David W popped up with Balagas 5^th. Phil was put through one on one with keeper and unselfishly squared it to Dave about 5-10 yards out with an open goal. He took about 20-30 touches before hitting the onion back as Jimmy McGee once called it! 5-0. Later Balaga had a similar chance where Dave squared it to Kev who also took an age to take a shot allowing the Passage defender to walk back and clear it from the Balaga defenders foot, which proves it doesn’t matter how many touches it takes as long as its buried!

6- Webz  popped up with his hat-trick thanks to a Parker shots across goal. Webz: “I got a seedorf/zola flick on it and in”.

7- David W got number 7 after some dogged work id say. No one remembers the goal but he did get his 2^nd of the night and Balaga’s seventh.

8-  Webzes 4^th and Balaga’s 8^th came from a Tom cross which finds Webz out the left one on one with the keeper who presumes the midfielder is going far post but placed  it near post. 8-0.

9- JD – an unknown beauty of a goal. So to fill space here’s Diego Maradona’s goal against England in 1986 - Héctor Enrique passed the ball to Maradona some ten metres inside his own half. Maradona then began his 60-metre, 10-second dash towards the English goal, passing four English outfield players – Hodge, Beardsley, Butcher and Fenwick. Maradona finished the move by dribbling round Shilton to make the score 2–0 to Argentina. About the goal, Maradona said, "I made the play to give it to Valdano, but when I got to the area they surrounded me and I had no space. Therefore, I had to continue the play and finish it myself." – ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh LEGEND!!!

10- Balaga’s 10^th and Whifty’s hat-trick – “my goals, all of them, clinical finishing,nah my last one was one on one with the keeper, i think webz/duggan kicked a long balls, dribbled in to the goal, nice powerful right leg under the keepers legs...IM THE BEST KEEPER IN THE LEAGUE...not anymore kid!!!”. The rest i cant remember, it was all about the performance – Dave W

11-  The final goal of the night came from the goal machine Webz – Tom took a  shot and it hit a Reject defender followed by Webz and into the Passage net.

A brilliant performance by all players involved and thanks to Douglas doing a job on MaDuleas the league is wide open again! The only downer for Balaga was the 1 goal conceded, and to rub salt into the defence and keepers wounds, it was an OG…… can’t remember who, but he’s got more than 1 this season. 

Disciplined Balaga Bully Dulleas

The biggest game of the season so far for Balaga as they came up against Ma Dulleas last night in Garryduff. With a crowd of zero the pressure was on the Balagaonian-Tongonian team to perform after last weeks loss. Despite Ma Dulleas goalscoring record and no loss recorded in the first 5 games for them, the word on twitter and facebook pre-match that Balaga would go for the 3 points. 

With Tristan Hurley picking up a Rib-Cage injury over the weekend and David W continuing to have issues with his rotting ankle, the squad was reduced to the bare 7, Rory OBrien was drafted in again for his 4th game in a Balaga shirt. JD moved into a more attacking role behind O'Driscoll as Webz and Parker were charged with controlling the midfield behind.

The game itself lacked quality at times but made up for it in spades with all sorts of action as it turned out to be very competitive as Balaga looked to keep the dangerous Dullea's attackers under wraps. After Going 2 goals down within 4 or 5 minutes in the first half, Balaga woke up a bit and came back into the game and with a goal from Webz and two from JD before half time the game was Balagas to lose.


The second half saw more of the same, determined defending from Balaga and quick attacks. O'Driscoll score d the only goal of the second half as Dulleas went a man down soon later with their usually calm main playmaker Joe losing the head with Parker and threatening an after game car park showdown.  This eased the pressure and with Damo in goal pulling of some great saves and controlling his area, the 3 points came soon later although Webz got a yellow and sin binning for an instinctive handball 3 minutes from time . 

The team looked strong and although it wasn't they're best game ever it was a well won game with everyone playing their part. Interviews with the Goal scorers and man of the match Damo Kennedy.

Reporter: On the score sheet again, can you run me through your goal last night?

Webz: Eh well basically I think there was a hoof from back left to front right and once I taken it down I stroke it with my left across goal and it came off some feen and into there net. Yet to score with my right foot this year.

Reporter: What do you think made the difference between this week and last week?

Webz: What made the difference? JD returning was good. Rory in the team was nice. Parker had an outstanding game (even if it may cost him his life.), Phil was live-o and damo put in a man of the match performance. Of coarse the 2 bys at the back battling the shit out of it. We also played a very good passing game and this was the biggest difference.

Reporter: You are on a hot scoring streak Philip, one more last night, can you run us through the goal?

Philip: the goal? we had a good break away and it ended up with parker in right midfield so i made a run away from him to give him space.. ran up to right wing he slipped me a beauty pass, one touch, saw the keeper come out with legs spread open like a cheaper whore and i slotted it home..

Reporter: You have got a good run upfront and seem to be enjoying playing as the Cucumbers Striker, more than in the midfield?

Philip: very much enjoying the run upfront now i must admit.. getting great service from the lads behind.. midfield and defense.. loving the ball into feet and over the top to run onto.. must just get better at shoooooooooting and playing in the lads coming through....

Reporter: 2 goals last night John, both opportunistic, can you run us through them? Did you enjoy playing in a more advanced position?

JD: Well I'm just delighted we won the match last night. Great result for the team. The lads were all brilliant. I've been playing up there in my last few internationals so the gaffa musta seen something he liked. Delighted to grab two goals maybe i was a bit lucky with the 1st one. their keeper scuffed it a bit and luckily i was in the right place at the right time. Great ball from phil for the second, happy to be there to put it away. AVE IT!

Reporter: Man of the match performance Damo, congrats, it was a good performance what do you think made the difference? Clean sheet soon?

Damo: Well wot did it for me was the fact tom and Kev listen to me for once and picked up their men and the fact that i hitting form again so a clean sheet is on the way but at the end of the day its a team game and if it wasn't for me we would of lost haha.

Other results across the league saw DouglasMortgage beat Balagas next opponents, Passage Rejects 10-5. Temple Inn got their second win of the season against Abtran 5-2 and QEF hammered Friars walk 5-0. This leaves the league like this after 6 games. Very close.

ViVA LA BALAGA

Balaga title in tatters after troublesome test with Gobal

 With 4 games down Balaga were in good shape. 4 matches played, 2 wins, 1 draw and a loss saw them with 7 points, so confidence was high for the visit of the industry's leading fastening and 'c' class supplier’s, QEF Global. QEF  weren’t quite as dominant on the football pitch though as their last 2 matches included 2 ass whippings from douglasmortage(10-0) and Ma Duleas(7-3)…

Tongo were nearly back to full strength bar JD who once more had some CIT match to play. Steve’s hip was good to go and Whifty’s ankle made the grade after the mother of all ankle straps was worn. Unfortunately for Dave, Phils form up front during his absence saw the big man drop back into right midfield with Parker on the left/center… The team:

After last week’s match which the ref called “one of the best matches I’ve ever seen up here”, Balaga heads were inflated and started the game as the dominant side… The little fellah up front for QEF was a handful with a great first touch so both Tom and Kev had to stick close, and while the fisticuffs and handbags were  happening at one end, Balaga were scoring at the other.

GOAL!!!

The first of the night came from Parker on his comeback and he continued Balaga’s run of lucky goals. From Phils corner kick he managed to bundle the ball over the line from about 2cm’s out and  between a maul of players air kicking in an attempt to clear/score depending on who swung… 1-0 Balaga.

A stern talking to from the ref for Kev saw an end to the handbags and the defender started to concentrate on the game, and not yer mans ankles. It seemed to be going to script for Balaga though as 1 became 2 to Tongo.

GOAL!!!

Webz picked it up on the left… beat about 2-3 players and neatly toe poked it into the near post. Another great goal in the space of 2 weeks, although the keeper looked well dodgy and surely a mauling was on the cards! 2-0 Balaga.

Anymore than a 1 goal lead though is  dangerous territory for Balaga and while they pushed for the third a long ball over the top caught the defence napping and outnumbered leading to a goal back by QEF. 2-1 Balaga.

GOAL!!!

Tongo pick up a free kick just outside the QEF box and regular free kick taker, Phil O’D stepped up to take it. He refrained from the Ronaldo/Drogba rasper dipping rocket option, choosing instead to hit it directly at the wall akin to the auld Jesper Gronkjaer style. The QEF wall opened like the red sea and deflected it into the net. 3-1 Balaga………. PARTY TIME!!!

The half time talk was along the lines of same again but that didn’t happen. Balaga just conceded two quick goals and before they knew it, the score was 3-3…

Chances came few and far between after that for Tongo who just didn’t seem to come out for the second half. Miss placed passes and a QEF bus in front of the keeper saw little work for the keeper. Meanwhile although Tom and Kev were coping better with the long balls to the small fellah, QEF eventually got the vital 4^th goal, which turned out to be the winner. It could have been more had Damo not found his form once more and pull off a few great save’s, diving to his right to steer it around for a corner from a rasper of a shot by QEF the most memorable stop.

The inclusion of Tristan gave Balaga different options and although he played well he couldn’t find the break Balaga needed. Dave did have a chance to make it 4-4 but miss kicked at the vital stage, which can be put down to lack of match practice. No doubt the northsider will have his scoring boots back on in no time…

Still though, Balaga should have had this game wrapped up and out of sight before QEF got a sniff and may well regret this loss later in the season… however, the table is still looking kind to the cucumbers as they’re just 2 points behind Global in second.

Balaga Kings of Jungle

The Temple Inn Tigers aka TV Tigers aka the Upsetters, a team from The Temple Inn aka Longboats in Ballintemple were the opposition on Wednesday night and it was a game aka a match that the Cucumbers aka FC Balaga Tongo were favorites to win on form aka the last few results but feared they would loose as they had done twice last season aka dose to some incarnation of this team.

As widely reported in the press before the game Parker and David W were both out. O'Brien was back again and new man Hurley in also.

The game itself was an end to end game with FC Balaga Tongo arguably producing the more beautiful football. But while O'Driscoll was causing problems in the Tigers backline, the two strong fellas upfront for them were causing problems for O'Callaghan and Broderick too despite their best efforts and intent of getting the clubs first clean sheet the forwards strength and eye for goal was telling as they broke the deadlock early enough in the first half and kept them in the game after Balaga began to tame.

Match footage:

Defensive midfielder Webz described the goals...

0-1- Tigers

0-2- Tigers

1-2- One to many one two's between Phil and john and Tristan picked up the pieces
1-3-  Tigers
2-3-  Keeper hoofs it off Phil's wang
3-3-  Webz throw to Phil, Phil hammers it across and it catches Rory in the wang
4-3- Great one touch football with Tristan laying it off to me who surprisingly hit it well with the left peg
5-3-  Phil corner, webz stop, Rory smash
6-3-  Phil smashes a corner off the keeper and then JD's wang

6-4-  Tigers
6-5-  Tigers
6-6-  Tigers

7-6- I strike with the aul left peg again. this time its a normal left pegger that is travelling at 2 miles per hour and well wide til od gets a sexy poke on it past the  already committed keeper.

Damo in goal couldn't do much for most of the goals as they were rockets which should of been blocked down but some great saves as always kept Balaga in the game. our clean sheet will come soon!

Broderick did well all day and was competitive all day with the fella who it was impossible to get the ball off. Good discipline in not going too far forward as him and O Callaghan try to get their partnership sorted. Our clean sheet will come soon!

O'Callaghan tried his best and got his foot in whether it be ball or leg. Speed drills and weights for the next few weeks are needed though to compete with that lethal striker next time around.

Webz was at the heart of the Balaga midfield for most of the day with OBrien dropping in when Webz needed to coughup a lung, prob a result of his and O'Callaghan representation of Balaga at Rag Week Battle of the DJs on Monday. His goal was one of the best of the night as he finished of a great passing move.

Rory OBrien who has been something of a sensation since his introduction had a great game again and lamped in a couple of goals for the cause. His trackign back and work rate was also acclaimed by club management after the game.

JD, John Duggan, managing to fit this game in with Colelge Ball on straight afterwards, was as always MOST EXCELLENT getting a goal for himself and a nasty smack in the nads too at the end.

Hurley was on from the start and once he found his feet he did nothing wrong and was dangerous going forward and well able to beat feens. A goal for him too on his debut and a great ball to Webz for his goal. Just the attacking dimension Balaga needed.

O'Driscoll looked deadly again in his second start upfront in the absence of David W , playing out the whole game he worked hard and was always looking to get in behind, infront and above the lanky defender.  He setup most of the goals, his sharpness off throws and corners was superb and he got the deftest of goals at the end for the 3 points. NICE.

Praise all around from this reporter and a great match to watch for the one supporter Zara. 

Elsewhere Passage rejects got the better of Friars Walk Celtic with the same scoreline as DouglasM. hammered QEF 10-0. Ma Dulleas are out infront now though with a convincing 8-2 win over Abtran connects.

 

VIVA LA BALAGA.

O'Driscoll Leads Walk Over Friars

One draw and one loss from the first two games of the season so this third game with Friars Walk Celtic was high time to put 3 points on the board.

 Steve Parker is still struggling with a hipflexer issue so he was ruled out again in hope of recovering soon. David W joined him on the treatment table last week after getting a knock against Abtran. John JD Duggan was on International duty so had to miss out on this one as well. While news broke this week that Tristan had signed on, he had to miss this week, so Rory O Brien and Emmet long were called in to make up the seven.

Like nearly every week it took about 10 minutes to get into the swing of things, but Celtic didn't take that long and some fella banged in a long ranger to Balaga's dismay. But this woke the team up a bit and attacks started to tell on the opposition particularly as Phil was having great joy against the man marking him. Balaga's first came from good work by Rory in the right corner pulling the ball across to Phil who had an easy finish. Soon after though the Friars got in front again. An equaliser always looked like it would come though and it came via an Emmet through ball which Rory tried to do some spinny take yoke and somehow it went through and past the keeper. Sweet. Then the Cucumbers went 3-2 up as Tom flung in a long throw to Phil who bustled the defender out of the way and the ball went in off the keeper. Phil then got his second of the evening as Webz put him through on the keeper down the right and he finished powerfully into the bottom left corner. 4-2.

Phil O Driscoll Presents new very long awaited kit to team members last night.

Into the second half and Balaga Tongo kept pressuring Friars Walk with Rory and Emmet running they're balls off on each side of midfield and Webz in the centre covering all sorts of ground. Kev, after firing a first half effort into orbit over garryduff, caught a Webz cross to the back post with a very convincing strike into the net. BAM 5-2. Although Balaga were creating the best chances Friars were always hawking around infront of the defense and were not afraid to let fly with some long range shots as Kev, Tom and the cucumber midfield coming back were breaking up their passing attacks. As a result they got lucky with a few deflections, and exactly this happened as the score went to 5-3. This is when Phil really turned on the style though, taking the tip off he turned and fired a first time shot straight over the Friars defense and through the keepers arms! Unreal! Genius! Yikes! were all heard from the sidelines as Phil ODriscoll claimed his hat-trick. A beauty to put Balaga back into a comfortable lead at 6-3. 6-4 didn't take too long to come though and then soon became 6-5 as Balaga tired and lapsed in their defending. But a quick move from defense to attack as Tom made a tackle on the edge of the box and hoofed a ball down the left which Phil ran onto and fired a shot into the bottom right of the goal for his 4th of the night, NICCCEEE. 7-5. The last few minutes were played out as a now tired enough Balaga hoofed a few clearances ridiculously far, this is when Friars frustration and tempers flared up as they knew they had lost out. Great performances from all.

Elsewhere in the league Abtran edged DouglasMortgage 8-7 to go top, Passage rejects edged Balaga's next opponents Temple Inn Tigers 8-7 and Ma Dulleas beat QEF 7-3 to go second only on goal difference.  This means FC Balaga Tongo now sit mid-table after 3 games. Bring on next week!

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.

----------------------------------------------half-time-------------------------------------------------

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.