Reserves match report by Rich Briscoe

On another sunny Sydney afternoon in the sandpit, Balmain Rovers set about their quest of claiming their rightful top spot in the league. Balmain started brightly and never looked like being beaten and it wasn't long before Liney slotted in the first goal - 1-0. There were a few hairy moments when it looked like Cabra Vale may force an equaliser, but Drew was on hand with a couple of great saves. Before the half drew to a close, Liney received the ball just inside the opponents' area, ignored a number of calls to pass and a few curses, turned and fired a shot across the goal into the far corner - 2-0. A fine goal but there were "a number of things wrong with it" according to Martijn, to Rob's disappointment in the pub afterwards! Half-time - 2-0.

Balmain again played some good football in the second half and for much of the time, set up camp in the opponents' half. However, we lacked the killer instinct to run away with a cricket score and a number of chances were missed, not least an almost open goal by Briscoe. However, to make amends, 10 minutes before time, a great double cross from Briscoe gifted Liney with his hat-trick opportunity, but unfortunately he didn't quite make the contact need to steer it past the keeper and into the back of the net.

And so the game ended 2-0 to Balmain Rovers. Results the following day brought more glory to Rovers when Botany were comprehensively beaten, leaving Rovers sitting pretty at the top of the league with one game left. Bring on those jackets! 2-0.

Goals: Rob Liney (2)
Pele Points: 3 - Ben Jones, 2 - Drew Schaper, 1 - Rob Liney

Firsts match report by Marshall Moir

New week, new opposition, same old story. The Firsts kicked off with their usual panache and intensity only to wilt like the spring grass under the searing Aussie sun. With a new look back four, Gareth "the rock" and Wootty "every attack with soft shins nightmare" anchoring the defence and a shuffle around in the middle of the park we settled in and started playing together remarkably well. The back four certainly had no trouble holding out the forays from the speedy Cabra Vale attackers and the midfield worked well with Marty upfront to create several chances.

As usual we were the first to trouble the scorer. The honour fell once again to Andy McLeod. After carefully studying the technique and style of that other great attacking midfielder Marshall Moir when his vicious volley was cruelly denied by the face of one the Cabra Vale defenders, Andy took the lessons onboard and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from well outside the box. The second for Balmain was equally impressive. Mike Stubbs got onto the end of another quality ball into the box and he made no mistake as he took it first time to leave the opposition in no doubt as to who was in charge here - more importantly no fluffs this week from the speedy left winger.

From here on the tale turns a little tragic. Cabra Vale clawed one back before the break to go to half-time only trailing by one. Mr Salomoni, who saw plenty of ball in the first half and made good use of it, must have seriously peed someone off, as the whole team decided to ignore him for the second half. This was made even easier when he was subbed with about 15 to go. Nick and Jeff kept probing forwarded and tried to give the midfield the support and ball they needed and Brendan kept running all day as he always does. However a lack of possession in the second half told and Cabra Vale managed to sneak another couple past the solid Stew in goal. As Nick pointed out, Stew was doing a great job of making himself "look big" in the goal - perhaps time for another couple of laps round the oval Stewie?

Finally a farewell to Marty, I dare say he's been to more games and training sessions than most people combined this year and given it plenty every week. He scored a couple of great goals and I for one can't wait to hear the tales of his exploits by the time he gets home to England: "so I gets the ball on half way, right, and dribble round all 15 of them ..." 2-3.

Don't forget the Rovers prizegiving and end of season shindig, partners more than welcome, would even go as far as to say encouraged (www.fixmeupwithahottie.com for all the single blokes in the team). Saturday 17th September. Kicks off at 2pm at the Balmain Bowling Club followed by dinner at the only restaurant that would have us. Price is $55 and includes Bowls, Dinner and Booze at the restaurant. $20 per person deposit required ASAP. See Sneaky Mike P or Marshall for details and to hand over some cash to.

Goals: Andy McLeod, Mike Stubbs
Pele Points: 2 - Gareth Williams, Mark Wootton, 1 - Andy McLeod, Martyn Farnworth

Div 7 Match report by Cormac O'Shea

A wise man once said that goals dictate the way you view a game. That wise man was John Giles (Gilesy to his mates) who won League titles, FA cups and generally terrorised the midfield for the Leeds team of the seventies. Balmain had pounded Hurlstone Park the previous week for 85 of the 90 minutes yet failed to score. One good free kick later and we had lost one-nil. Today was to be a different story as Balmain took their chances and erased any problems in a gutsy if somewhat patchy performance. It was all down to this game and a win would put Balmain in the final. The team was beginning to look a bit jaded but Robbie and Colin were welcomed back to add a bit of passion and guile respectively. Indeed we also seemed to have a new manager in Sergio 'the tinkerman' who felt that having only lost twice all year in about 18 games the best thing to do was to play 3-5-2 instead of our usual 4-4-2. Therefore I found myself playing in the middle of a back three for the first time since under-14s when I had a bit more fuel in the tank than now.

As with previous games Balmain started well and were given plenty of time by Enfield to move the ball around. A good passing movement involving Gabe and Robbie put Simon through for a cool lofted finish over the keeper. One-nil after about 15 mins and we continued to run the game for the next ten, creating a couple of good chances which we failed to take.

Enfield are one of those awkward teams who are not blessed with too much skill but who battle hard and do their best to unsettle teams through persistent niggly fouls and verbals. They pushed hard to score before half-time with a succession of long throws and corners. The Balmain midfield were wondering what to do with their extra man and Enfield simply pinned us back until half-time, each clearance coming back within seconds. The back three defended well with some good positioning and Morgan in particular took a couple of clean corners and swept up well.

The second half started a bit better for Balmain but again Enfield got on top without creating too much. At this stage Omar was tracking back to help so much he may as well have been left back so a call to revert to 4-4-2 was greeted with a sigh from my now completely busted right leg. Following that Balmain had shape again and began to control the game. Passes began to find their target and tired bodies moved into more natural positions without having to think about where they were. Balmain had one scare with 20 mins to go when the Enfield forward hooked a messy ball goalward but Colin got to it and cleared. From then on it was all Balmain. Simon was moving well but was rarely allowed more than five or six yards before he was fouled. It does annoy me that refs seem intent on booking players for making noise (me) but let persistent fouling go unpunished ... having said that the ref had an OK game and was fair to both teams. With about 10 to go Colin knocked a good pass to Dan who steadied and crossed a great ball into the six yard box to Robbie. Robbie ignored the obvious header to go for a more Hugo Sanchez style finish by volleying the ball in mid-air past the keeper for the clincher. A well deserved goal for the Mexican who had worked hard all day.

Hard to pick any stand-out performances as every player battled very hard and showed the desire needed to get through a tricky game. Another performance like this is required next week to wrap up a great season for a hard-working team. In the interest of democracy and fairness I will spread out the points. 2-0.

Goals: Simon Goodman, Roberto Arocha
Pele Points: 2 - Morgan Bowling, 1 - Dan Whaite, Roberto Arocha, Tony Madau, Dale Humphries