With three consecutive victories under their belts, Richard Keown took his side up the A3 for a tricky fixture versus Balham FC.
Balham impressed people last season finishing 5th amassing 75 points.

Knaphill were unchanged from last weeks victory. The game started with two evenly matched sides looking to assert their authority. The first chance came on 10 minutes. Harry Rapley picked out Josh Barry with a cross field pass and he slipped the ball through to Nathan Thomas but the keeper came out quickly and smothered the effort.

Balham looked to play out from the back and up front they had exceptional pace but the Knappers were set up well when they did not have the ball. Jack Collins did well to block an effort on 24 minutes and a minute later a downward header was saved by Aaron Holt.

At the other end Rapley fed Scott Costello who raced into the box past two players but his cross was cleared.

The best chance of the half fell to Balhams striker on 30 minutes when he got clear one on one with Holt. He poked the ball over Holt but the effort was inches wide of the far post.

Balham had the best possible start to the second half when they were awarded a penalty on 50 minutes. A combination of Harris and Collins tangled with a Balham forward and after he went down the Referee pointed to the spot. Holt went the wrong way and Balham went ahead.

Knaphill responded confidently and poured forward. A sustained spell of pressure followed and it led to the equaliser. Barry put a great ball across but it evaded everyone. Eugene Hagan-Morgan chased the ball as it looked to be heading for a throw in. He kept it in and his cross picked out Josh Barry who slotted home from six yards. Soon after, Campbell tried his luck from 20 yards but the keeper saved.

Matt Kellet-Smith came to the rescue with a great block and Holt made two routine saves. The third goal of the game on 75 minutes saw Knaphill edge ahead with a lovely finish from Campbell who picked the ball up 25 yards out and fired in to the bottom corner.

Balham were chasing the game and Holt again made a decent save and the three points looked to be heading back Redding Way but six minutes into injury time Balham made a hash of a free kick but the ball ballooned up and fell to their winger who somehow found the bottom corner through a crowd of players.

Having been seconds away from a fourth consecutive win it was a cruel end but overall was probably a fair result.

Team:Holt, Bower, Harris, Kellet-Smith, Collins, Costello, Barry, Aloui, Campbell, Thomas, Rapley.

Subs Used - Hagan-Morgan, Hector-Smith, Whiddett.