Mounties account for Tigers
Balmain endured a disappointing evening at Lambert Park on Saturday against Mounties. Both grades had a chance to put pressure on teams above them as the playoff race hots up, but both failed to produce. Under 20s went down 5-0, while Firsts crashed 2-1.
Conceding two first half penalties in the Under 20s set the tone for the evening. The side came out in the second half intending to snatch something from the game, though their attacking mindset was punished as the opposition clinically counter attacked. After a good mid-season run put them in a position to challenge for the top five, the Mounties defeat has left the Under 20s with a mountain to climb for their playoff ambition.
First Grade was hungry to bridge the gap on the ladder between the side and the fifth-placed Mounties. A disappointing first period display saw them go down midway through the half. The Mounties striker controlled a difficult ball to bounce his way through a nervous Tigers’ backline before finishing smartly high into the net from a tight angle.
Despite the anxious first half display, the Tigers had their own opportunities. With his back to goal, Dane Maberley drew two defenders then played in Lorenzo Merlino who could only hit the post with the goal at his mercy. Yet Merlino made amends soon after by controlling the ball in the area, turning his marker and sliding a left footed shot past the keeper.
Still, the Tigers were punished by their lack of intensity. Not long before half-time, a back peddling Tiger defence allowed the Mounties forward a free shooting chance from 20 metres. He made no mistake, rifling a shot into the roof of the net.
Balmain came out a different side in the second half. Though they enjoyed a larger share of possession and territory, Balmain could not find the equaliser. The match would have been put beyond them had Dan Conway not pushed a feverish drive from a Mounties midfielder onto the post midway through the half.
More action was to be found at the other end of the pitch. With the goal at his mercy, Jackson Gothe-Snape couldn’t bring down a volley after a half-cleared free-kick. Lorenzo Merlino couldn’t beat the keeper one on one. A corner was cleared off the line amid claims for handball. Then Jeremy Pettenon fired a glistening strike towards the top left corner, only to see the keeper dive full length to his right to divert the ball away. The Tigers were to fall agonisingly short.
