Balmain lost their first match in five attempts against a rampaging Enfield in the Bill Brackenbury Cup, while Hurlstone Park Wanderers inflicted Concord JSC’s first defeat of the Grace Martin Trophy.
Words by Liam Cook
Bill Brackenbury Cup
Marrickville Red Devils 1-4 Strathfield FC
Strathfield have their season on steady footing again after recording their second win in a row against Marrickville.
Led by captain Anthony Costa, Strathfield came out with strong intent and put two goals on the scoreboard, one to Christian D’Angelo and the skipper himself, inside 15 minutes.
The second half saw Marrickville’s Caleb Kennedy add some early tension with his goal brining the Devils within striking distance.
Peter Patsiavoudis’ score, along with Costa’s second quickly calmed the waters as Strathfield ran home comfortable victors.
APIA Leichhardt JFC 1-5 Hurlstone Park Wanderers
Hurlstone Park keep on keeping on as they racked up another compelling win over APIA.
The Wanderers piled on four unanswered goals for 80 minutes of the match in a convincing and comfortable manner.
Jamieson Mobbs added some joy to APIA’s scoresheet with a consolation goal in the 87th minute before Vincent Giannini snared his double for Hurlstone.
Enfield Rovers 3-0 Balmain DFC
A top tier battle went the way of Enfield as they franked their premiership credentials against Balmain.
On the same number of wins prior to the contest, both sides scrapped for the upper hand early on.
The 31st minute broke the deadlock when Anthony Fonti put through the game’s first.
With the game still well and truly in the balance upon the second stanza’s arrival, either side needed someone to break the game open.
Enfield delivered through Gabriel Ghajar in the 51st minute. The home side defended stoutly for the remainder of the contest before adding the finishing touches with Fonti’s late double.
Grace Martin Trophy
Cooks River Titans 1-0 Balmain DFC A
Celebrating the conclusion of female football week, the ongoing battle between Balmain and the Titans saw the latter secure their second win of the season.
The friendly rivals welcomed the evening game under lights at Leichhardt Oval and with some very even play between the teams, it was Titans’ Alexandra Molnar who scored the decisive goal early.
A sly back of the post shot from the midfielder inside the 20th minute, combined with ex-Matilda’s goalkeeper Kim Schaefer saving multiple second half chances assured victory.
Leichhardt Saints A 4-1 Marrickville Red Devils A
Despite a fast start, Marrickville A were no match for the might of Leichhardt Saints A.
Natasha Caldrmoska ensured Marrickville shot out of the blocks with a goal in the fifth minute.
The home side soon answered the challenge, the prolific Lucia Gonzalez hitting back within ten minutes of the opposition.
Leichhardt’s superiority shone through as the game developed, Michelle Reilly-Brown, Emily Farrington and Sophie Lewis all chiming in with goals.
Leichhardt Saints B 8-0 Marrickville Red Devils B
The Leichhardt sides doubled up victories against their Marrickville foes.
Saints B claimed a rollicking win thanks to a hattrick from the irrepressible Jasmine Sargeant.
The scoring began with Georgia Dunn just 10 minutes into the match, and it rarely slowed down.
Lindhout sister’s Annike and Zoe shared in the fun while Isabel Adolphe rounded out the scorer’s sheet for Leichhardt in a dominant display.
Hurlstone Park Wanderers 6-0 Concord JSC
Concord’s first loss of the 2023 season came at the hands of a rampant Hurlstone Park. Half an hour in, a looping ball from the Wanderers’ midfield bounced into the top of the box and was converted by Stephanie Kontakos.
Just a minute into the second half and the Kontakos was at it again, adding her second of what would be four goals.
The match continued with Hurlstone Park winning the loose ball in the centre of the field and putting constant pressure on the Concord defence. Lorna Arkell and Lauren Wilson also scored for good measure.
Concord managed several shots on goal from range but never looked threatening and were ultimately beaten by the better side on the day.
Russell Lea Women’s SC 0-1 Strathfield FC
Third-placed Strathfield almost received a rude shock in a tense tussle with Russell Lea.
Coming up against the Penguins who had only one win to their name, Strathfield struggled for ascendancy for much of the game.
Only an Isabella Azzopardi strike in the 27th minute separated the two sides in a spirited contest.
LFC Sports 1-6 Balmain DFC B
Balmain B’s dominant, second straight win keeps them in touch with the top six.
Their match against LFC Sports began tremendously through Zoe Robertson and Rebecca Keywood goals inside two minutes of each other.
Not to be outdone, LFC snagged a prize of their own when Francisca Maria De Macedo Silva produced a quick reply.
The host’s early competitiveness derailed soon after, Balmain going on to add four unanswered goals including a Keywood and Goldsmith sister double.
Image credit: Photographed with Love
