Archives

« July 2004 | August 2004 | September 2004 »

Balmain will get a second bite at the grand final cherry next weekend after losing 1-0 to Trasandinos in the major semi final on Sunday. Played at night in greasy conditions after light rain had fallen for most of the afternoon, the game was a very tight affair with neither side managing to create many quality opportunities to score. Trasandinos shaded the Tigers in the first half, and went closest to scoring with a swerving free kick that Justin Delaney kept out with a fingertip save. Urged on by the extremely vocal Balmain supporters that had filled the stadium, the Tigers midfield took the game to Trasandinos in the second half, with Matt Jaffrey in particular having a stormer. With less than a quarter of an hour to play, Trasandinos banged in a goal from about 25 yards out on a rare foray into the Balmain half. Coach Campbell responded to the roar from the supporters urging him to "show us the muff" and duly brought on Julian "Muff" Bracewell in an attempt to find an equaliser. The Tigers went agonisingly close in the final minute when Jake Flower's free kick missed the far post by only inches with brother Nick unable to reach the ball with a desperate lunge. So Trasandinos march on to the grand final in a fortnight, while the Tigers will have to defeat Sydney Cedars next Sunday to earn themselves a final day rematch.

The Reserve team earned themselves a spot in the grand final as they comfortably accounted for Sydney Cedars 3-1 in their semi-final. The Tigers attacked from the outset and had shots from Dylan Zammit and Peter Glavis go narrowly wide. The first goal came after 10 minutes as Jem Richardson split the defence with a ball to Honza Capek, who calmly rounded the last defender and slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Balmain's task was made easier shortly before half time when the Cedars had a player sent off for his second booking, granted immediately after he was heard to say to the referee "you can't give me a yellow card". Despite the numerical advantage, the Tigers allowed the Cedars back into the game immediately after the break when some lazy defending allowed an unmarked man at the far post to score with a volley. Only after the equaliser did the Tigers reassert their superiority with some flowing football that began to tear the Cedars apart. Richardson restored the lead with 20 on the clock when a goal mouth scramble saw the ball roll free to him on the edge of the six yard box. Capek then wrapped things up when he chested down a Richardson free kick and volleyed the ball past the stranded keeper. The win gives the Tigers the luxury of a rest next weekend, where they will wait to see whether their grand final opponent will be Sydney Cedars or Gladesville United.

We are now taking applications for entry into our Summer six-a-side football competition. This year's pageant of small field footballing excellence will take place at the hallowed turf of Birchgrove Oval. The competition will be run once again on Monday and Wednesday nights, starting the week commencing September 20. Depending on team numbers the competition should run up until the Christmas / New Year period or perhaps a week or two longer. So organise your mates and get a team entry in early, as we have had a lot of interest after the success of last year's event.

You can enter your team via our website here.

The jubilant Tigers celebrate clinching the league title

Balmain clinched the NSW Division 3 championship on Sunday, taking home the title with a tense 1-0 victory away to Lithgow. Knowing that their title rivals were almost certain to win against lowly opposition, you could forgive the unusually quiet Tigers fans as they nervously milled around the stadium. They need not have feared though as big Dan Hanusek settled the nerves after 10 minutes when he turned his marker around 25 yards out and smashed an unstoppable low drive past the Lithgow keeper. The Tigers then proceeded to squander more than a handful of chances to finish the game off, both before and after the half time interval. With Lithgow typically fighting to the end the Balmain defence of Chris Grayson, Eamonn Byrne, Keith Agnew, and Daniel Ault were magnificent, not allowing Lithgow a single shot at goal during the second half. Finally as the clock ticked past the 49th minute of the second period, and the travelling Tigers faithful whistled until they were blue in the face, the referee blew time and crowned Balmain champions. In a team of giants, Daniel Ault stood tall to claim the Exchange Hotel man of the match award. Needless to say the streets of Balmain were lined with delirious fans as the victorious Tigers returned to the Exchange Hotel for a night that will live long in Balmain's memory.

Due to the Aussie soccer teams' early exits from the Olympic games, the SBS crew was able to cover some of the match, and we should have highlights available in our gallery later this week.

If you would like to pass on your congratulations to the Tigers, your can post a message here in the forum.

Somewhat overshadowed by the first team's achievements on the day, the reserve team put in their best performance in weeks as they demolished Lithgow 6-0. Bolstered by the return of Czech superstar Honza Capek, who had spent six weeks trapped inside a tanning salon in Prague, the Tigers looked to be more dangerous up front. So it proved as they took the lead with a 1st minute goal to Alex Shain followed by a Jem Richardson header that made it 2-0 before five minutes had passed. Despite many good chances, they could not add to the lead until after the break when part time striking sensation Svenaldo was brought on for the injured Steele Bonus. Svenaldo added two goals in quick succession and the scoring was wrapped up with goals to Shain and Paul Ritchie. Ritchie was awarded the man of the match award for a fine display in midfield.

Balmain kept the championship chase alive with a 2-0 victory over the East Coast Magic on Saturday, and in doing so all but ruined the Magic's finals aspirations. With both sides desperate for a win, the game proved to be a scrappy battle and only really came to life late in the first half when the Magic had their striker red carded for disagreeing with the referee. The game was interrupted for several minutes as the incredulous player had to be "escorted" from the field by a couple of match officials. The game remained scoreless until the half time break with Balmain unable to capitalise on the advantage provided by the extra man. The Tigers finally broke the deadlock 20 minutes into the second period when Daniel Ault connected with one of his trademark piledrivers from the edge of the area. Julian Bracewell then settled things in the final five minutes when he turned his marker and curled a beautiful left footed shot into the far corner of the net from well outside the box. Once again showing that age is no barrier, Tigers youth team sensation Chris Grayson was awarded the Exchange Hotel man of the match. So after 21 weeks the league winner will be decided on the final day, when the Tigers will be faced with the longest road trip of the season to Lithgow. With the other league contenders, Trasandinos and Kellyville, both playing opponents in the bottom half of the league, it looks as though only a win will be enough for the Tigers to secure the title.

Earlier the Balmain reserves overcame yet another player shortage, winning 2-0 in what was quite honestly a woeful spectacle. Having a squad of only 11 players to pick from, coach Kaltenegger was forced to start with several injured players including Tony "no knees" Mersaides and Steele "nose job" Bonus. In a very forgettable first half there were only two incidents of note, the first being when the referee awarded a free kick for a foul that he thought was outside the box. Chalk one up for the Birchgrove groundsman though, as his cunning plan of criss-crossing the field with multicoloured paint had confused the poor fellow and the foul had, in fact, occurred inside the box. The referee got one back though by deciding to make it an indirect free kick from which the Tigers could not score. The second incident was of course Balmain's goal, courtesy of Jem Richardson, who smashed a shot through a crowd of would-be tacklers for his 20th reserve goal of the season. The second half was more of the same forgettable stuff until the referee again decided to liven things up by sending off Dylan Zammit after he unsuccessfully slid in for a tackle, missing both the ball and the player, and then viciously attacked a Magic player’s boot with his back while lying on the ground. In a moment of pure theatre, the referee first waved play on, then red-carded Zammit, then yellow-carded the uninvolved Magic captain, then asked the captain who it was who actually kicked Zammit, then yellow-carded him. Unfortunately for the aspiring comedian, no one was laughing in the end. Anyway, despite playing on with 10 men, of which only six or so were fit, the Tigers managed to add a second courtesy of Nose Job Bonus who cracked in a fine first time shot from the edge of the area. An all round commanding performance highlighted by a couple of excellent late saves earned keeper Matt Mullhall the Exchange Hotel man of the match, just edging out the star of the show dressed in black.

After the highs of last week's performance, Balmain suffered a dose of reality as they were outplayed in every department in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Sydney Cedars. The Tigers looked sluggish from the outset and only really got going after the Cedars scored the opener after 20 minutes. Despite creating a couple of half chances, nothing eventuated and the score at half time was 1-0 to the home side. The second half began with more misery for the Tigers as the first cross from the Cedars was headed in for a Balmain own goal. However Balmain hit back almost immediately when Steve Lewis struck a free kick that took a deflection on its way past the stranded Cedars keeper. The all action start to the second period did not let up though and within another minute or so the Cedars had made it 3-1 from the penalty spot. The penalty came after a Cedars attacker had butchered a one-on-one opportunity with Justin Delaney making a great save. He looked up, saw the three or four Tigers defenders trying to tackle him, screamed, threw his arms in the air and the rest is history. The Cedars added a fourth before Nick Flower scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot. The other title contenders all won on the weekend, cutting the Balmain lead to a solitary point. The task that remains - wins from both remaining games and the title returns to Birchgrove.

On a somehwat brighter note, congratulations and celeberations are due as the Reserve team finally got the point they needed to clinch the title in a 1-1 draw. Despite enjoying a majority of possession, some wayward finishing from the Tigers saw the match remain scoreless for the first quarter of an hour. Playing on the counter attack, the Cedars scored against the run of play with a shot from the edge of the area that went in off the post. Balmain applied the pressure in response but with the Cedars keeper having an impressive game it looked like goals would be hard to come by. Indeed they were, and it took the Tigers until virtually the last play of the first half to equalise when Julian Bracewell's flicked header sent the ball into the top corner from Alex Kaltenegger's free kick. The second half resembled the first as Balmain controlled the game and the Cedars played on the counter. The Tigers had a couple of chances to wrap up the win but in the end the scores remained level. By the way, check back later this week as we should have video footage, including the goal that won the league, courtesy of SBS.

Congratulations to Reserve team coaches Alex Kaltenegger and Frank Warnink, all the players, supporters, and everyone else who has contributed to the Reserve team success this season. The next job for the boys is to see if they can carry on and add a finals series medal to their championship trophy.

Saturday's clash against Kellyville shaped up as a classic late season six pointer with both sides sitting atop the table on equal points. With the championship in their sights and looking to make amends for Kellyville's 3-0 triumph in the first round, the Tigers took the game by the scruff of the neck from the outset. Dominating the midfield and nullifying the Kellyville attack, the Tigers looked more likely to score and the opening goal duly came courtesy of Jake Flower. Unleashed down the left hand side after some enterprising build-up in the midfield, Flower let go with an unstoppable drive from just outside the area that nestled nicely in the far corner of the net. Not to be outdone, Dan Hanusek made sure of his entry for goal of the season when he turned his marker and drilled a looping volley into the top corner from 30 yards only minutes later. Flower scored his second and Balmain's third in almost identical fashion to the first, this time beating the keeper at the near post with the sheer pace of his shot. Kellyville attempted to attack in the second period and threw an extra man forward only to find Balmain's defence impenetrable - keeper Justin Delaney having little to do but take a couple of goal kicks. The fourth goal arrived late in the game from a Nick Flower penalty kick after Jem Richardson had been brought down in the box. Unsurprisingly, Jake Flower earned himself the Exchange Hotel man of the match award with an excellent performance including two stunning goals.

The chances of Balmain Reserves going a whole season unbeaten have sadly ended after they lost 2-1 in the earlier match. In a first half of few opportunities, Balmain were very unlucky not to have the lead when part-time striker Svenaldo headed into the top corner. The referee blew for a foul on the keeper by Julian Bracewell and it is fair to say that the replays were inconclusive. The Tigers finally took the lead shortly after the break when Bracewell beat a couple of would-be tacklers, surged into the box and drilled the ball past the keeper. However the celebrations were short-lived as Kellyville were back level two minutes later. The visitors again enjoyed the benefit of a dubious decision when a ball flicked off a Kellyville attacker and hit Peter Glavis in the arm, the referee pointing to the penalty spot. And just to prove it wasn't going to be the Tigers' day, Matt Mulhall got across smartly to save the penalty, only to see the ball go up in the air away from goal, hit the ground and spin back into the net. The game continued with the Tigers creating and missing a couple of good chances until Kellyville snatched the winner late in the game. The ball was cut back to the edge of the area to an unmarked Kellyville player who hit a low, hard shot that went into the corner of the net after taking a small deflection off another Kellyville player. Daniel Ault produced a solid performance in defence and was rewarded with the Exchange Hotel pints as man of the match.

In other news, the first grade points table seems to have changed significantly this weekend. It looks as if Gazy Lansvale may have had many of their results reversed and points stripped, including a draw which they gained against the Tigers. This is unconfirmed at the moment - it could also very well be a mistake by whoever compiles the Soccer NSW results. Stay tuned for confirmation.