Tigers down students in 2-1 victory
Saturday night saw Balmain grab their second successive home victory of the season with a 2-1 win over the University of NSW. The match eventually got underway after some farcical pre-match scenes where the referee had threatened to cancel the match after UNSW had alerted him to the fact that the penalty areas were not quite big enough. A quick trip to the hardware store and $50 worth of spraypaint later, the match was set to go thanks to the work of resident Balmain taggers Alex “I do everything at this club” Kaltenegger, Leo Mauceri and Damien McCabe, now known as the BFC … Balmain Funkmeister Crew.
Balmain took a first half lead through Tom Sowden’s back post strike, ably assisted by the absolute faintest of touches from Lozza’s second “airswing” diving header of the night from the rampaging centre half Alex Leris’ inswinging cross. A quick mention for goalkeeper Conway who enjoyed a fantastic night of doing bugger all between the sticks, a marked contrast after week’s match-saving performance at Fairfield where he was peppered with shots for most of the second half. (Dan you got your mention, that’ll be $5 off the fines tally. Cheers.)
Then with Paradisis and Modena bossing the midfield and Umlil running amuck out wide, Balmain dominated the second half only to suffer a scare as the students scored with their only shot on goal in the second period. Not to worry though, the gods of karma smiled upon Balmain and granted a lifeline as Buonavoglia outfoxed his marker and was tripped just inside the penalty area. It was right in the extra sprayed area that wouldn’t have been there if not for the pre-game shenanigans. Lozza made sure everyone in the stadium knew it too with jubilant cries of “Penalty! Penalty! Thanks to the line! Thanks to the line!”. Johnny B picked himself up and duly dispatched the spot kick for a thoroughly deserved victory which keeps the Tigers up at the right end of the table.
If that wasn’t enough you can read the Football NSW match report as well.
