Baltic emerged with a credible draw against old foes Farleigh on a beautiful autumnal morning in Warlingham.
With both sides missing a host of regulars the game was played with bare 11's, no subs or linesman. Baltic started brightly, zipping the ball about in the visitors half with Des Lindsay spreading play from one side to the other with unerring accuracy. The home side were getting joy down the flanks but were unable to create clear cut chances to test the Farleigh keeper.
The visitors struck first against the run of play and with their first attack of the game. Phil Solomon the Baltic stand in keeper didn't move as the Farleigh striker hit a shot from the edge of the area. As has been a hallmark of Baltic's early season form, they responded almost immediately. Ricky Baxter got to the byline and delivered a sumptuous cross for Phil Broughton to nod in via a huge deflection off the Farleigh defender which wrong footed the keeper. Definitely one for the Dubious Goals Committee! Things got even better for the hosts moments later when the tall centre back, psycho Simon, stretched to intercept another Ricky Baxter cross only for the ball to spoon up over the keepers head and into the corner.
Baltic's lead did not last long with Farleigh going straight up the other end and scoring past an again rooted Phil Solomon in goal.
The game began to settle back down midway through the first half but the Baltic pattern of play continued, spreading the ball and keeping it on the deck. Ricci Cattaneo and Mouse were industrious in the middle of the park, the latter hampered by a dodgy curry, and as the game was played more in the central area's, Kevin Day was felled by a strong challenged from the fair haired Farleigh central midfielder.
Baltic retook the lead just past the half hour, a throw in line with the visitors penalty box found its way to Mouse and his fantastic back heel was toe poked past the keepers near post by Phil Broughton. Soon after, Baltic scored again. Broughton knocked the ball into the path of Dave Barrett who powered into the box and finished low to the keepers right. Baltic had become totally dominant and the visitors defence was in complete disarray.
However, the tie swung again a minute before half time with yet another Farleigh long range effort finding its way to the back of the net to reduce the deficit.
Baltic, clearly deflated came out for the second half without the energy of the first. Phil Solomon made a great save with his legs to keep the lead intact, but soon after Farleigh equalised with another strike from distance. The visitors were in the ascendancy, Baltic struggling to keep the ball up front and credit has to go to the back four for keeping the Farleigh no. 10 fairly quiet. Solomon pushed another effort over the bar as visitors attacked with more regularity. With 15 minutes to go disaster struck for Baltic. The Farleigh winger scored the best long distance strike yet, smashing it into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.
With time running out Baltic attacked again with a succession of corners coming to nothing. However, in the 88th minute, Phil Broughton slipped while hitting an effort with his weaker foot which looped up and over the keeper and went in off the bar for his hat trick. Fortune favours the brave as they say and Baltic had definitely been brave.
There was still time for Solomon to somehow fumble the ball over the Farleigh strikers head only to catch it again having lost his bearings. A great game played in a good spirit.
Every Baltic player can be proud of their performance, especially only having a bare 11.
