Chipstead were unable to halt their recent run, as they lost 2-1 against Balham at Tooting & Mitcham’s ground in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South on Wednesday night

They started positively enough, with Edd Mbango prominent up front, but it was Tijani Eshilokun, who had the first shot, which went wide, whilst many were appealing for an audible foul on Deshon Carty, which went unpunished, as he managed to stay on his feet!

Reece Deakin, playing wide on the right, then cut inside & curled a left-footed shot just wide of the far post, & Yonas Emhatsion saw his free-kick headed goalwards by Storm Glautier, but the flag was up for offside

So, it was rather against the run of play, when Balham took the lead 1-0 in the 13th minute, as their no. 10 scored on the break

Two minutes later & it was 2-0, as the Balham no. 7 doubled the lead at close range

Chips tried to find a way back into the game, & Mbango had a shot charged down, but keeper Tiago Santos David had to grab an effort heading for the top corner to prevent a 3rd goal for the home side

Skipper on the night Michael Agyemang tried a bold shot from the centre circle, but it went just wide of the target - Emhatsion hit another free-kick in, but Deakin’s header at the near post was smothered by the keeper

Deakin took a short corner to Erick Rayo Arias, but his cross was headed straight at the keeper by Emhatsion - Chipstead had a good spell of possession just before halftime, but couldn’t reduce the deficit, which remained 2-0 at the break

Chips needed to come out strongly, & the home keeper had to poach Mbango’s dangerous cross, with Deakin & Carty ready to pounce - but things really took a positive turn, when Diego Munoz came on as sub - he was immediately fouled, as he advanced down the right - Deakin took the free-kick, which was cleared back to him, but his follow-up shot cannoned off a defender

Mbango put over another teasing cross, but Levi Bassett put the ball wide - another Deakin free-kick reached sub James Mansfield, but was deflected for a corner - Munoz saw his shot hit the keeper, before Santos David kept his side in the game by getting down to save smartly, but time was running out

Even when the Balham sub no. 14 was sent off for a second yellow card, it was already in added time, yet Chipstead did score a consolation goal, as another fine cross from Munoz was fired home by Mbango, but there was no time for an equaliser, & it finished 2-1

Chips remain 10th in the league table ahead of Saturday’s tricky trip to Tadley-Calleva, weather permitting