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Balmain regained top spot on the league ladder with a comprehensive 11-0 thrashing of league cellar dwellars Sporting SCC on Saturday. To be fair, almost all the Sporting players were backing up after playing the preceding reserve grade fixture. A first half spent camped in the Sporting half ended with the Tigers leading by a relatively slender 4-0 margin - the score could and probably should have hit double figures in the first period alone. Two quick goals after the restart gave the Tigers a 6-0 advantage but the next 20 minutes or so proved frustrating as Sporting defended deep in numbers in an effort to keep the score respectable. The Tigers turned it on in the last 15 minutes of the match though, banging in five more to add to the goal difference which could prove crucial in the run in to the finals. Dan Hanusek lead the scorers with four, Nick Flower scored a hat trick including two from the penalty spot, Steve Lewis bagged a double, and Paul Ritchie and Jake Flower chipped in a goal apiece. Hanusek and Nick Flower shared the Exchange Hotel man of the match honours.

Balmain's squad depth was again stretched to the limit this week as reserve grade were forced to take the field with only 10 players. Faced with a horrendous injury and holidaying player list, coach Kaltenegger again called on Balmain stalwarts Campbell and Grill and also produced a masterstroke by playing part Brazilian, part Danish goalkeeper Svenaldo as a lone striker. Despite playing with a man down, the Tigers outplayed their opponents in the first half and took a 2-0 lead thanks to a Campbell goal from the penalty spot and slick finish from Dylan Zammit. Balmain made it 3-0 in the second half when Svenaldo produced a superb individual goal involving the beating a couple of would-be tackles and a small chip past the keeper, followed by almost collapsing with exhaustion afterwards. Sporting managed to pull one back with a free kick, but Svenaldo had the final say when he controlled Zammit's cross then slammed the ball into the top corner to make the final score 4-1 to the Tigers. Peter Glavis earned the man of the match award with a solid performance in defence.

Next week sees Kellyville visiting Birchgrove for top of the table clashes in both grades. With the first team needing a win to stay ahead in a four team race for the title and reserve grade only a point away from clinching their league, it will be a day you won't want to miss.

Contrary to what was printed on the player fixtures sheet and also the fixtures page on this site, Saturday's game against Sporting SCC will be played at Whitlam Park No 4, Green Valley Rd, Busby.

Jimmy Campbell would like to advise that tonight's training session has been cancelled. Our regularly scheduled training will resume this Thursday at Birchgrove Oval.

With only 11 fit players to pick from, Balmain's squad depth was tested and shown to be healthy in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Colo Colo. The Tigers came out playing some champagne football right from the opening whistle and after a couple of good chances the opening goal looked inevitable. It finally came 15 minutes in courtesy of Jem Richardson, who lost his marker and tucked Eamonn Byrne's free kick past the onrushing goalkeeper. Balmain made it two a few minutes later when Steve Lewis found Nick Flower with a pinpoint corner, Flower applying a first time finish that left the keeper with no chance. The Tigers supporters celebrated a third with the last kick before half time, only to be disappointed as the play was called back due to an offside call. The second half began badly for the Tigers when Colo Colo were awarded a penalty after a player was pushed and fell off the ball. Colo Colo scored to make it 2-1 and from then on Balmain faced a battle to keep the three points. However the Tigers dug deep into their reserves of character and held out, perhaps lucky on one occasion when a Colo Colo header hit the post. In the end though, the Tigers came away with a thoroughly deserved victory that keeps them in touch with the league leaders. Transfer deadline signing Dan Hanucek earned the Exchange Hotel man of the match award with an excellent performance up front which will leave the injured Julian Bracewell wondering if he'll be surplus to requirements when his fibula eventually stabilises.

Presented with a squad of nine players, the reserve team coaching duo of Kaltenegger and Warnink were forced to issue emergency call ups to big Dave Grillvinio and little Jimmy Campbell. With Campbell playing at the back and "Postiga" up front, it looked as though scoring opportunities were going to be minimal for both teams. Indeed Balmain were forced to work hard for the victory, which was achieved due to a solitary second half goal. The goal came courtesy of Alex Shain who, moments after receiving a blatant elbow to the head, leaped like a salmon and used the newly formed lump above his left eye to head a Nick Bounds throw-in goalward. The ball took a deflection, rather ironically off the elbow-thrower, and snuck past the keeper into the net. Nick Bounds turned in a dashing display at right fullback, earning himself two pints of the Exchange Hotel's finest for being man of the match.

Balmain produced a shocker at Parklea on Saturday, going down 4-1 after the derby game against Gladesville had been moved due to their ground being doubled booked. All the early signs pointed to a Balmain victory, with a sluggish Gladesville side happy to concede possession and territory and rely on the quick counter attack to provide chances. Apart from a headed goal line clearance by Gladesville, there was little to report on in the first half and the scores were locked 0-0 at the break. Balmain were hit against the run of play early in the second half with a ball pumped straight up the centre which the Gladesville striker ran onto and flicked past the stranded Matt Mulhall. Incredibly the scenario repeated itself three times in the next 20 minutes as Gladesville scored in almost identical fashion. Balmain managed to nab a consolation goal through Steve Lewis, then spent the last quarter of an hour attacking without reward.

An alternative pitch was unavailable for reserve grade so their match was postponed.

Three goals from the Flower twins, two for Nick and one for Jake, were amongst the many highlights as Balmain hammered the hapless Earlwood Wanderers 6-1 on Saturday. Steve Flower-Lewis opened the scoring, beating the keeper from well outisde the box with a superbly taken free kick. Despite dominating possession, territory and chances, the Tigers let Earlwood back into the game when a miscued shot somehow bobbled into the far corner to even the scores. The Tigers regained the lead when Nick Flower controlled and tapped in Grant Flower-Burgess' long throw, and the score remained 2-1 at half time. The second half was an utter demolition, with Nick Flower scoring from the penalty spot, Lewis-Flower adding a second, Julian Bracewell-Flower scoring with a header, and Jake Flower smashing in a shot from the edge of the area. With two disallowed goals and a host of good chances missed, the score could and should have reached double figures. The ever present Matt Flower-Jaffrey turned in another sterling performance to grab the Exchange Hotel man of the match award, fittingly on his birthday.

Hell froze over earlier as Balmain reserves scored from the penalty spot in their rather mediocre 3-2 victory. Vinny Leonard gave Balmain the lead late in the frst half when Jem Richardson's cross dropped in the box for him to stroke the ball past the keeper. The Tigers then made it 2-0 shortly after half time when Honza Capek took on a couple of defenders and cut the ball back across goal for Richardson to push into an empty net. The Tigers then found themselves reduced to 10 men as Alex Kaltenegger did his best impersonation of a speed bump, which ended with him copping a boot to the kidney as an opponent ran over him at full speed. Earlwood hit back with a couple of goals in quick succession and Balmain were forced to bring on backup goalkeeper Svend to play on the field. The move turned out to be a stroke of tactical genius as his physical presence in the penalty box conjured up a foul from an Earlwood defender. Eamonn Byrne, the sixth penalty taker used this year, smashed his spot kick winner past the keeper to grab all the points for Balmain. Peter Glavas earned the Exchange Hotel man of the match with a solid effort in defence.

Congratulations to Mr Matt Mulhall for winning our fund raiser raffle, drawn at the Exchange Hotel on Saturday night.