Baltic travelled to rainy Beckenham to play HSBC looking to improve on last weeks poor result. Playing on an immaculate pitch, Baltic knew misplaced passes would skid off the ground and overhit long balls would bounce out of play so accurate passing was important. HSBC are a master at this as they only play home games and know every blade of glass, and they started the stronger with the no. 15 dropping deep to pick up the ball to begin attacks. The tall no. 11 and Scottish bearded no. 8 in the centre of the park also deserve a mention, as well as Baltic's very own Paul Courtman and Scott McVeigh who helped the home teams depleted side. HSBC took the game to the visitors, having the better of the early exchanges. The host's first goal duly arrived after a quarter of an hour, a fiercely struck shot from the edge of the area that deflected off the head of the unfortunate Paul West and wrong footed Jordan Pettman in the Baltic goal. This spurred the away side on and they were level soon after. Great work from Scott Poulier as he waltzed past three players to get to the byline before knocking it across for Adrian Bradley to take a touch and knock it past the ageing keeper and into the net for his second of the season. Baltic should have taken the lead late in the first half, Bradley having done the hard work of taking the ball past the keeper shot from a ridiculously tight angle when passing to unmarked team mates on the edge of the box would have been the better option. So selfish!
All square at half time, Baltic changed to three at the back to match the HSBC numbers in the middle of the park. The home side began the second half as they had the first having a lot of possession without creating many chances. Both goalkeepers merely spectators as the outfield players struggled to wrestle control. As the game entered the final 20 minutes, the home side were visibly tiring and Baltic's high press was beginning to pay dividends, pinching the ball with regularity. The away side had another gilt edged opportunity to take the lead when Scott Poulier was released through the middle by Arron Watmore one on one with the keeper. Maybe he had too long to think, maybe he bottled it but with everyone expecting the net to bulge, he dragged his effort wide. As always happens when teams miss great opportunities, HSBC went up the other end and the tall no. 11 showed Poulier how to do it with a fine strike low into the bottom corner. 2-1 and Baltic were staring at consecutive defeats. As the time ticked into the 90th minute there was a lengthy stoppage whilst the home sides centre back received treatment due to coming off worse in a 50/50 with the determined Poulier. By now Baltic were leaving numbers up field and with the game entering the third minute of stoppage time, Dave Barrett dinked a delightful ball into the box, and Phil Broughton, beating the HSBC offside trap which had been so effective, headed the ball past the keeper and into the corner to send the away following into delirium. For the second time this season Baltic had scored late to earn a draw from the jaws of defeat.
Baltic may not play on a pitch as big as this again during the season, however, their passing rate and decision making needs to improve if they are to turn draws into wins.
