AFC GROUNDHOPPERS

Friendly

 

 

With no competitive fixture scheduled due to cup ties AFC Groundhoppers managed to arrange a friendly against AFC Balham who play in the Southern Sunday League, Tony Eldridge Championship Division. The idea was for us to continue our momentum from last weeks victory but as kick-off loomed and only eleven men emerged from the dressing room it was starting to look like not such a good idea after all.

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If that wasn't bad enough the visitors took full advantage of Hoppers slow start flying into a 2-0 head start after only 15 minutes on the clock. As a bemused GH tried to find a way back into the game Balham made it 3-0 after yet another mistake. Then on the half an hour mark the turning point came when the referee judged that the ball did not cross the line but Adam Ballard was unable to hide the truth and sportingly gave the goal to the opposition making it 4-0.

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Not many of Ballard's teammates were best pleased with his decision of honesty but what it did do was light a much needed fire under our asses which resulted in two quick fire goals. The first came from debutante Simon who coolly placed the ball into the bottom left hand corner from a Joe Willis pass before Tom Bolger made it 4-2 after a 30 yard run that was finished off superbly. 

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All of a sudden the two goal deficit looked a lot more manageable at the break and momentum swung right back into our favor.

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The best bit of football was played ten minutes into the second half when Sam Dangerfield whipped in a terrific cross after some good link up play down the left that was fumbled by the Balham keeper but followed up by Willis to make it 4-3. With our tails up it was only a matter of time before the equalizer came but Ballard had to produce a great save first when he tipped a low free-kick onto the post.

 

Bradley Ladeinde handled in the area but it was definitely ball to arm rather than a deliberate hand ball but it sent our visitors into a frenzy calling for a penalty. As the referee overruled and signaled play-on Dangerfield collected the ball from his own half and quite simply put the burners on leaving the Balham defence in his wake before comfortably slotting the ball home to make it 4-4.

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If that wasn't enough excitement for one game there was still more to come as Hoppers had a goal-line clearance ruled out that looked dubiously over the line before Ballard was at hand to save superbly once again from a point blank header.

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Quite simply a poor performance in the first half and hour but significant improvements after. For any side to be 4-0 down and come back shows true grit and desire which can take us a long way. Just a bit more quality is needed and a little less honesty Mr Ballard!

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AFC Groundhoppers

Adam Ballard, Bradley Ladeinde, Rob Biggs, Ollie Spedding, Ben Phillips, Denzil Rolle, Simon, Johnston Brown, Sam Dangerfield, Tom Bolger, Joe Willis