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Hopes remain high on Birchgrove's hill for a successful climax to season 2006. In this year's final home fixture on Saturday, Balmain swept aside Prospect in both grades to maintain pressure on league leaders UNSW. But, with three crunch clashes remaining, the season can still go either way.

The Under 20s made the worst possible start to their match, after some dismal defending from Balmain's veteran centre back allowed Prospect to race away to a 2-0 lead in just fifteen minutes. A bombardment of long throws and a tall visiting forward line were causing the diminutive Tigers' line up all kinds of problems.

As Kaltenegger considered adjusting his side though, a whipped corner from Tristan snaked through the Prospect box until Uri connected to sweep it home. 2-1 was the score, but with Frank shoring up the central defence, all the momentum was with the Tigers.

The half-time Grilling helped boost the Tigers ever more, and they started the second half surging with intent. The midfield was overpowering the tiring Prospect side and before long it was 2-2. An opportunistic cross from the right landed with Uri, who stabbed the ball home after a sharp first touch. From then on it was all Balmain, with two more goals, including a beautiful curling free kick from Bracewell, that took the Tigers to the top of the table.

In First Grade, a typically physical Birchgrove fixture saw the Tigers fully earn their 2-0 victory, built on a foundation of sturdy defence. Balmain went ahead early through an Ilias penalty after an unfortunate but obvious Prospect handball. Chances were rare at both ends, but as half-time came and went, the Tigers were suffocating their Prospect opposition. The second half began to open up, and the Tigers went close several times, including two nominations for miss of the season from Ilias.

It was Luis however who sealed the victory with a sharp finish on the turn after a half-cleared corner. 2-0 was a fair result for the Tigers, who skip to within four points of top spot. Despite the win, victories to fellow playoff contenders keep the team possibly as little as three points inside the top four. And with the final three fixtures against the teams currently third, fourth and fifth, the season remains finely poised.

Still, the Tigers can sleep soundly ahead of Tuesday night's epic Parklea fixture versus Fogolar, calm in the knowledge that they have their destiny in their own hands. This is where it gets interesting Tigers fans - stay tuned for plenty more action.

Previously 2nd placed Lakemba have had the results of five of their matches nullified by Soccer NSW and awarded 3-0 to their opposition. This moves the Tigers into second place in the league. Unfortunately the league leaders UNSW have picked up an extra two points in the scandal.

Ladies and Gentlemen, along with the match report, the Balmain Soccer Club is back! Yes, the weekend's fixture was against lowly Auburn and, yes, first grade made it a little difficult for themselves. However, you cannot debate the fact that the Tigers grabbed the full six points to reassert themselves near the head of both first grade and under 20s tables.

Sharp and alert after a pre-match tussle with some territorial birds, Kaltenegger's Under 20s opened with a blitz, with more chances in the first half than an Australian holidaying in Germany. Sadly, they could only score four times. Balmain added another two goals in the second half, but the game petered out in the drizzle, with the Auburn players focused more on the birthday cake awaiting them after the match. Beyond the 6-0 drubbing, the match will be remembered for the actions - sorry, inactions - of the referee, who forgot to bring his red card with him despite an array of last-man sliding tackles from behind. Or just maybe someone had told him about the cake too.

First grade took to the field with a new-look defensive line-up. The team took some time to adapt to the new system, with a couple of early Auburn balls turning the defence around in the moist conditions. Approaching half-time, the Tigers began to improve, and some neat interplay from Totaro and Bonus lead to the Tigers opening goal. Bonus' skidding through ball dodged and weaved through the Stars' defence and found a flying Senol on the right wing who rounded the keeper and finished with ease.

The muddy centre of the pitch and lack of Balmain cohesion looked to be making this one a match to forget until Totaro was singled out for some special treatment from a cowardly Auburn defender - one that the Balmain striker knew personally!

Midway through the second half, Ilias and Julian came on to take advantage of a tiring Auburn side. Within minutres, a splendid Lozza through ball sent Ilias through and he made no mistake with a strong finish past the goalkeeper's left hand. At 2-0 though it looked as though it was Balmain who were tiring, as bottom-placed Auburn mounted a noble comeback. Auburn's overweight lone striker scored to make it 2-1 after the Tigers lost the ball cheaply, and it could have almost been 2-2 but for Auburn's lack of attacking polish.

A hearty congratulations to Lachlan, who made his first-team debut and performed well, including executing a tremendous tackle as last man on Auburn's only serious attacking threat.

Back on track after three successive defeats, and with players returning daily from World Cup adventures, the Tigers are well placed for a rousing end of season run at the final series. With three games in a week starting from next Saturday, it's crunch-time for 2006. Stay tuned!

It was only a matter of time before the World Cup absentees and an ever growing injury list took its toll and what a time for it to happen against the top side in the comp with you comming 2nd!!!
The under 20's were always going to struggle against a physically strong and well drilled Uni side with Tyral and Kaye both promoted to the firsts and with the former missing at the back the opposition had a field day in the air scoring its first goal with a header and dominating everything else at head height. It was probably Balmains worst performance of the season as far as tecnique went but the ever present Balmain heart left the score a respectful 2-4 with 2 goals from Aguire. On a brighter note for Coach Kaltenegger his partner Mel managed to find a new stable for her Horse "Crapbag".

The First grade game was the one all had been waiting for, with a point seperating the 2 teams at the top. Though depleted the Tigers still fielded a strong squad but were very wary of Uni's midfield duo of Crumplebucket and Wimple. The game, as expected began at a frenetic pace with both teams swapping phone numbers as contact wasn't a problen when the tackles were excecuted. The first 30 minutes saw a few half chances but nothing until Mitch Bonus was caught fannying about on the ball by the ankle tapping Wimple. Robbing him of the ball he took 2 strides before unleashing a 20 yard pile driver that hit the top corner...1-0 Uni! like james bonds drink Balmain were shaken but not stirred and rallied putting pressure on the Uni goalmouth but just as it seemed they were getting back into the game a long punt upfield by Uni defender Hoffenbonk resulted in Jaegr comming for a ball he was only going to struggle to get to and the speedy Crumplebucket nipped in and scored from an acute angle right on half time..Uni 2-0 In Hindsight that was game over! The second half started with another Uni chance but then Balmain started to apply pressure with some clever approach play but Uni were just too well organised and Balmain offered little in penertration. As the game drew to a close Coach Andrews was left to lament that 2 mistakes cost us against a good side and had we held them to 0-0 with 20 to go, Who knows what might of happened?
So, It took 12 rounds for both of our grades to taste defeat which in its self is a great effort and later at the pub the mood was positive with the lads raring to get into the next game.

Under 20's; Once again the nemesis of the men from Camden proved genuine as a the 20's stuttered and bumbled its way to a 2-2 draw. Playing a team far below its ranking Balmain were brought down to a level of football that was well, lets say forgetable. It took Camden all of 5 minutes to hit the lead with a fine shot from their forward Freddie McPie that left Peck no chance with a save but plenty of chances to use expletives. Awakened my McPies strike Balmain fought hard and earned a well deserved penalty which Aguire duly despatched with aplom. The 2nd half produced lots of huffing and Puffing but not much else until a little bit of magic by Djambazov on the right produced a fine cross and a toe poke by Emedi to give the boys a barely deserved lead. It seemed all over at that stage with Balmain in control but with the final whistle seconds away that man McPie turned up again to stab home an equaliser that filled Birchgrove Oval with the biggest F##k Off the gound has ever heard from a disgruntled Coach Kaltenegger.

On the other hand the 1st grade were having none of Camdens lets run around mental for 90 minutes and after a shakey start turned in a superb 5-0 thumping. Goals from "The Gandu Express" Uri Kaye (3) Dan Totaro and Loz Merlino made for a satisfied Coach Andrews who,s team is taking on a very young look with the debuts of another 2 under 20's. Man of the match went to Totaro with his tireless running and well taken goal but special mention was also apportioned to the ever improving Kaye who single handedly deystroyed the Camden defence with his blistering pace and cool finishing.