It’s Not Just About Heart Anymore
Balmain faced 1st division Springwood away in the shadow of the Blue Mountains on Tuesday night in the first round of the Tiger Turf cup. Not only did they face higher division opposition, but also a cup hoodoo that has seen Balmain out in the first round for the past 4 years. The “carrot at the end of the tunnel” (to ham-fistedly mix a metaphor) for the victors was a glamour fixture against ex-NSL and now NSW Premier League heavyweights Marconi Stallions. Greeted by an opposition manager who eagerly shared his plans with super-coach Kaltenegger for renovating his changing rooms for next round’s visit by Marconi, Springwood clearly felt Balmain were nothing but a speed bump on the road to greater glories. Read on to find out what happened…
Give this old timer a moment or two while I reminisce, but in my 15 years associated with this humble club it has always been about “The Spirit” The Passion, “The Heart”, if you will. Well now down at Birchgrove they’re talking about the football!
On Tuesday night Balmain played one of the most total games of football I have ever seen, against not only a first division side in Springwood, but a team who have played 4 more competition games than the men in orange. The first 35 minutes of the game would have been very pleasing, if not frustrating, for Balmain as for all their possession and fast, neat, interchanging play the scores remained 0-0. Deasey and Modena were easily accounting for any wide attack that Springwood so relied on and at the same time were mounting raid after raid down either wing. With a little of that match fitness taking effect, Springwood started to come into the game and put some attacking plays together and the half time whistle was a welcome sound for the Tigers.
As the first half had ended the second began the same with The Woodys mounting an aerial bombardment and in the 52nd minute after Delaney had saved brilliantly (that’s why I slagged him in the last report!) a cross from the right saw a Springwood toe divert the ball into the corner. Stunned, but not out, Balmain regrouped quickly and started to apply the pressure but it was obvious it needed that height, that muscle, that enforcement that is Lozza Merlino! The introduction of the big man started to give something for the Tigers to aim at and while Springwood were double man marking him, an unsung hero from the back in Dan Ault steamed in with a header from a Deasey corner to level the scores 1-1.
Not content with that, Balmain forged on and for Springwood the ball was like a hot potato with relentless pressure being applied. Some great work by Parelli released Bracewell down the line and with a defender to beat the wily attacker managed to shimmy his way past his man, take the ball into the box and play an inch-perfect cross to Hardwick, whose momentum and right peg smashed the ball into the right hand corner. Delirium broke out as all 20 supporters (that’s including the players, coach and trainer) went berserk! With 14 minutes remaining Balmain held on for what, I have to say, is one of the best victories I have ever been associated with at this club. Hanging on and closing down and snatching a sneaky 1-0 win against a higher placed team is all well and good in cup football, but to do it with style is something else.
And so now we join “The Big Boys” of the Premier League and we face a tough task against Marconi Stallions. Should we win that I want AC Milan in the next round!
