Conference League Northern Round 16 Review

Hawkesbury desperately needed the win to stay in touch with second placed Roosters FC, and came out in determined fashion against their more fancied opponents.
Their efforts were rewarded with two goals in the second period, the first a delicate chip from all of 25 yards from skipper Hartge on 53 minutes. The second goal came in the 67^th minute when sturdy striker Jones put the result beyond doubt, turning in a cross by George with a clinical piece of finishing.
Given the season was on the line, coach Gary Lewis was ecstatic with not only the victory, but the fact that the Hawks kept the Balmain strikeforce of Buonavoglia and Merlino scoreless.
If Balmain can hang on to win the minor premiership, it looks like we are headed for a last day of the season showdown for the second semi final spot, where Hawkesbury play host to the Roosters at Benson Lane at 3pm on August 2.
At Summerhayes Park, Roosters FC stayed that one solitary point ahead of the Hawks in second place by beating Springwood 2-1. Roosters FC lead 2-0 at the break, but a second half send off brought them down to ten men, and Springwood pulled a goal back but could not find an equalizer.
Roosters FC will have a week to brace themselves before meeting Balmain next weekend in the penultimate game, 3pm at Mona Park on Sunday in a match where the league leaders can clinch the minor premiership with a victory.
At Alec Lamberton Field on Saturday afternoon, Bathurst?75 and Gladesville Ryde Magic played out a predictable 0-0 draw, keeping both sides in 6^th and 4^th positions respectively, where they had started at the beginning of the day.
In the final match of the round, Prospect United managed only their third win of the season at William Lawson Reserve on Saturday by overcoming a resurgent Penang FC by 4-2.
But it was Penang that hit the front early when  Hoare scored on 6 minutes, but Stead equalized for Prospect in the 19^th minute. Viera then put Prospect 2-1 up in the 39^th minute, but Cohen scored his seventh goal of 2008 when he restored parity for Penang on 41 minutes.
The home side stepped up a gear in the second half, and Georgy put them in front after 57 minutes, before Gabara finished off the day?s events with Prospect?s fourth goal a minute from the end.
Luddenham United had the week off via the bye.
Two catch up games were scheduled to be played on Sunday in the Northern Conference, with only one going ahead.
Balmain grabbed an all important three points courtesy of a forfeit by Penang moving them to 37 points on the competition ladder, and a whisker from the minor premiership.
In the other match, two goals by Dowling were enough to give the visiting Bathurst ?75 a point in a 2-2 draw at Prospect.
Vella?s first half goal for Prospect was sandwiched by Dowling?s two efforts, before Gabara equalsied for the home side just 4 minutes before full time for a share of the spoils.
-By Frank Speranza