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Gladesville's visit to the magnificent Birchgrove Oval was the first local derby match for the Tigers this season, and all expected a tight encounter. All were proved right as the match quickly turned into a midfield battle for possession with Balmain's central pairing of Jackson Gothe-Snape and Matt Jaffrey featuring prominently. A five minute blitz midway through the first half ultimately turned out to be the match-winning period of the game. Dave Hardwick opened the scoring, sending an angled volley just inside the far post from the edge of the box. Then Julian Bracewell doubled the lead within minutes, flicking the ball into the goal from a goalmouth scramble after Gladesville failed to clear a Balmain corner.

The second half continued the tight, scrappy nature of the contest and the Tigers looked to have the points in the bag with ten minutes to go. Gladesville made it an exciting finish though as they curled home a beautiful free kick around the wall. Fortunately for the jubilant Balmain supporters, Dan Ault had the final say with 5 minutes remaining as he latched onto a shallow clearance and unleashed an unstoppable low flying missile from all of 40 yards to make the final score 3-1 to the Tigers. Balmain's man of the match for the second week running was Jackson Gothe-Snape. Jackson also picked up the Gillespies Cranes Man of the Month award and at his acceptance speech he dedicated the achievement to his good mate Leo in Ireland.

The reserve team gave away their first points of the season in a 2-2 draw with an extremely relieved Gladesville side. Balmain dominated from the outset without being able to put away several decent chances and, as often happens, found themselves behind to a penalty goal after Gladesville's first decent attack of the first half. Balmain hit back shortly after, with Honza Capek beating a couple of would be tackles and burying his shot into the corner of the net. Balmain then found themselves denied time and again by some superb last ditch goalkeeping as the scores stayed level at half time.

The second half served up more of the same as Balmain dominated posession and territory, only to be hit on the break by a superb run and finish down the left flank. This time Balmain hit back immediately from the kick off, literally passing their way through the Gladesville defence, with Jem Richardson knocking in a deflected shot from Tony Merceides. Try as they might, and despite giving the Gladesville keeper and the woodwork a vigorous workout, the Tigers could not score again and the scores ended 2-2, with Jem Richardson picking up the man of the match.

40 years ago, Earlwood council designated an area of vacant land unfit for housing construction due to the steep slope and the numerous potholes. Thus we found ourselves playing at the picturesque rolling hills of Earlwood Oval, a place where a good ball down the line will roll out at a 45 degree angle more often than not.

Steve Lewis opened the scoring for the Tigers with one of the most devious penalties in penalty kick history. Full marks to Lewis for spotting the pothole on the edge of the six yard box which allowed his cleverly directed penalty to bounce up over the diving keeper right when he thought he had it covered. Here is the footage, courtesy of Alex Kaltenegger and featuring commentary from Paul Ritchie, using the latest video camera technology available on the streets of Zaire. I think it's safe to say that penalty would have made Michael Owen proud. Although only up 1-0 at half time, a demolition looked like it was on the cards and so the second half turned out to be. Julian Bracewell got on the end of some superb team passing moves to put away a couple of tap-ins, as did central defender Nick Flower in the eventual 4-0 victory. The midfield meat-grinder pairing of Jackson Gothe-Snape and Matt Jaffrey had particularly good games, with JGS snagging the man of the match pints.

Reserve grade preserved their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 victory that was a lot more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. The Tigers started like a house on fire, with Grant Burgess storming into the box from the left wing to smash the ball into the top corner after only five minutes. Before 10 had passed, Jem Richardson headed home a pinpoint cross from Nick Bounds to make it 2-0. Despite quite a few decent chances there was no more scoring until well into the second half when a pressured Earlwood defender volleyed home a cracking own goal from a Dylan Zammit cross. Earlwood did manage a late consolation goal with only seconds left. Nick Bounds took out the man of the match after a tireless performance on the right side of midfield.

Update: We have just heard from Auburn that they are unable to play tonight so training will take place as normal for everybody.

We have a friendly vs Auburn Star this Tuesday night (13/4). It is at Mona Park, corner of Mona and Chisholm Streets, Auburn. Kick-off is at 7.30pm. If your name is listed below, please be at the ground by 6:30pm. If you are not listed below, please attend training as usual at Birchgrove.

Justin, Matt M, Gavin, Jake, Dan, Jackson, Matt J, Vinnie, Henrik, Julian, Stevie, Dave H, Paul, Chris, Grant.

Jimmy Campbell celebrates Matt Jaffrey's winner

Matt Jaffrey is the toast of Tigertown after he scored off an injury time corner to seal a 3-2 win for the Tigers over Gazy Lansvale. The match began poorly for Balmain with a Lansvale striker latching onto the end of a route one long ball and smashing it past keeper Matt Mulhall after only 10 minutes. The rest of the first half degenerated into a bout of aerial ping pong, from which Nick Flower was able to bundle home an equaliser, again after chasing down a massive hoof straight up the middle.

Coach Campbell's half time talk seemed to do the trick as Balmain came out and dominated the second half, showing the quality they are capable of. Julian Bracewell produced a baby-salmon-like leap to head home a corner for the Tigers to take the lead midway through the second half. With only a couple of minutes remaining and Lansvale hardly threatening the game looked all wrapped up. No-one told Lansvale though and they rammed home a rare corner that wasn't cleared properly to make it 2-2. A desperate last 3 minutes saw the Tigers gain a corner and there was Jaffrey lurking at the back post to seal the three points. Some rugged defending on the right side of defence earned Gavin Buddis the man of the match award.

Words can't really do justice to the demolition the Balmain reserves handed out to Lansvale in a club record 18-2 victory. That's eighteen in case you thought I mis-typed or something. Five goals each to Honza Mutu and Paul Ritchie, hat-tricks to Dylan Zammit and Jem Richardson, and a double from Grant Burgess took care of the scoring. Mutu took the man of the match and Paul Ritchie became the first player in the history of the game to score 5 in one match and not win an award.