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After a 3 week lay off due to the adverse weather the conference's top two teams found themselves thrown together for one of the season's most important games, albeit with a few non match cobwebs!

Coach Kalteneggar still without his full strength squad was forced once again to re-arrange his line up and formation with the ever texting Shannon coming in for Parelli in the midfield and Hardwick in for Totaro playing just in behind Merlino.

As per usual the game started at break neck speed but with the pitch still sporting puddles from the recent downpours there made for some interesting challenges of which the referee failed to act appropriately. Greenisland, as the game went on, started to put some meaningful attacks together but with the bulky frame of Ault and the even bulkier frame of Grayson at the back all aerial attacks were thwarted. And just as the scripts had gone against Balmain this season a break down the right from Modena saw his cross converted via the keeper and a defender by Dave "First Touch" Hardwick for a 1-0 lead to Balmain. Greenisland seemed to take offence to having 80% of the game and being a goal down (welcome to our world) and increased the pressure on The Tigers Goal but still they held firm.

Half-time came and went and still Balmain held on even after losing first Ault with a dead leg, then Suttor with an even deader leg. The pressure was now relentless and a slip of concentration saw a Greenisland winger steal away down the right for his inch perfect cross to be converted from 6 yards giving Cuthbert no chance in goal...1-1. You would have thought, "that's it, we're gone now" but No! Balmain took the ascendancy and began to take the game by the scruff of the neck, First Uri "The Urinator" Kaye with a looping chip that just beat the upright, then a Jaffray volley that crashed off the bar followed by a deflected save which fell to the big man (Lozza) for a simple tap in....2-1 to Balmain.......NO!! Offside from 3 yards out!

And so it ended with what appeared to be a fair result but Balmain will know this was very much a missed opportunity.The man of the match went to the ever Righteous Jaffray, for his workman like performance with a mention for all the 5 boys at the back for their great effort in keeping us in the game.

Earlier, the reserve team recorded another crushing victory against Greenisland, the final score ending 6-1. First half goals to Craig Andrews (a double), Admir Smajovic, and Jem Richardson put the tigers ahead 4-0 at the break. Sasha Emedi scored a pile driver from well outside the box to make it five in the second half, and Ibrahim "Ibby" Ibrahimovic scored the first goal of his life to record six, and after seeing him celebrate we can only hope he scores a few more this season.

Smarting from a disastrous defeat the week before at Bathurst, Balmian's first grade were up against a much improved Roosters side, and with several changes made due to injuries and suspensions the game was always going to be a test of character.

The game started with Balmain creating a few half chances and seemed to be taking control but a cross followed by an unmarked Roosters player with a free header resulted in the ball hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing agonisingly over the line to give Balmain yet another mountain to climb. With a new partnership of Big Lozz and Totaro up front it took a while to get going but it was the big man who carved out Balmain's first real chance when he brought the ball down from the sky and flicked it past the keeper only to see it hit the upright and roll to safety.

The second half began with The Tigers beginning to believe in themselves and they started to apply pressure to the Roosters defence, with Parrelli, Modena and Jaffrey pulling the strings it needed that final touch and composure Balmain has been missing upfront. Step forward Birchgrove's own Robin Hood in Lozz Merlino! The big man toiled tirelessly upfront throwing himself at everything, first a header just over the bar, then one off the line, and this seemed to inspire his band of merry men around him. Then in the 60th minute a ball put the burly forward through on goal, with a defender closing him down he coolly side stepped him then with the coolest of finishes ARROWED his shot into the far corner for a sublimely taken goal.

Not finished Lozza Hood had another shot blocked by the keeper and his rebound saw it eclipse the bar for another Roosters escape, this was followed when the same man yes Lozza put through Ilias (Fetch Boy) Hatzidavid only for the panting forward to hit straight at the keeper. With a few scares at the other end the game ended with both teams disappointed but willing to accept it was a fair result in a 1-1 draw.

At ye old pub where upon Balmain's subjects feasted upon suckling pig and fine ales served by Exchange wenches, The man of the match flagon went to, you guessed it Robin Lozza Hood, for which he thanked all with some words of wisdom, "You's only get out what's you's put in boys". A true latter day hero who robs from opposing defences to give to Balmain!

Despite almost making a meal of their match, the reserve team continued on their merry undefeated ways with a last gasp 3-2 victory. Ahead early after Dave Hardwick poached a goal, the Roosters were able to equalise after some keystone cops defending. El Capitan Diego "let me take the penalties", never one to let the reality of the scoring system used in football get in the way of Balmain's tradition of missing penalties, saw his softly taken chipped penalty plucked out of the top corner by the midget goalkeeper, who was on loan from the Roosters' under 12 team. Jamie Djambazov popped up to score his first for the season when he expertly brought down a cross and curled the ball in at the far post. Half time passed, as did most of the second half, and Balmain squandered about 36 chances to score before the Roosters showed Balmain how to take a penalty - in off the post and it was 2-2 in the 90th minute. Faced with the shame of giving up their perfect record, Balmain immediately went back up the field and scored after Julain Bracewell carved out a chance for Craig Andrews. 3-2 victors but the reserves really can play a lot better than this.

Well the less said about last week's trip to Bathurst, the better. Suffice to say it was another of those days where the Tigers dominated only to lose 1-0 to Bathurst's only shot at goal in the second half.

The reserves fared considerably better, maintaining their perfect record with a 3-0 win. Two goals in the first half went to Sasha Emedi and Frank Angeloni, but the pick of the bunch was David Tucker's second half volley from a corner.

Anyway here's a photo of a trio of our boys modelling this year's kits. Many thanks to Anthony Trieste of Wholesale Trophies for his assistance in securing us these rather smashing pre-game kits (centre).

Daniel Ault (home kit), Anthony Trieste (pre-game kit), and Lorenzo Merlino (away kit)