Recap

For second placed Balwyn Carlton looked like an easy game as the struggling Heart side fronted up for what looked to be one of the final times in Series Futsal as relegation looks to be a sure thing. The Carlton team that walked out on the court tonight didn’t look anything like a team preparing for relegation as they pushed the penultimate team of the competition to their limits.

The game started in emphatic fashion for Carlton as they came flying out of the blocks with two great opportunities being wasted before the teams captain Chaaban Rajab found the back of the net. The embattled Carlton team continued their dominance of the game with many chances going to waste as they took the Balwyn defence to pieces. Finally the super star Ernie Simsek was able to find a way to score. The second Carlton goal proved as catalyst for change and as great teams do Balwyn responded to the Carlton pressure coming into their own and finding two quick goals to finish the first half equal.

The second half saw the intensity of the game step up a notch as tempers began to flare. With players getting in each others faces and decisions of referee’s being questioned. The quality of the play continued to stay high from both teams as it became a goal fest with both teams going goal for goal. Carton opened up the larges margin of the game with a two goal lead being established early in the half. In the fashion of the game Balwyn managed to reel their opposition back to level with two goals in response. The final five minutes of the match saw attack after attack without a goal being scored. As the final buzzer sounded the game finished with a five all draw.

For Balwyn this was a chance to further consolidate their position in second place on the table as they are already two games clear of rivals Hume. Carlton came into this game with a point to prove and they did, showing that they are no push overs and despite preparing for relegation they can continue to compete with the teams in the top league.