State League Division 1 Review
Match of the Round
Balmain SC and Blacktown Spartans share the spoils at Lambert Park
Newly promoted Balmain SC had been preparing all summer for their eagerly awaited debut in Division One, and the time had finally come to open their season at their new home ground, Lambert Park.
But they would have to do without no less than three of their pillars of success in last season?s Conference League. Central defender Jeremy Pettenon is gone, moving to fellow Division One aspirants, Inter Lions. Club captain Anthony Trieste is recovering from injury, and made his comeback on Saturday through the Under 20s. And finally, 2008 Conference League player of the year, Johnny Buonavoglia, is out for the season with a knee ligament injury, and will assist in an assistant coaching role.
But Balmain coach, Alex Kaltenegger, has retained most of the rest of his championship winning squad, and no doubt has the team primed and ready to make an impact on the competition.
The visitors, Blacktown Spartans, came to Leichhardt smarting from a first up win last week against Hills Brumbies, and were looking to spoil the home team?s party by continuing on their winning ways.
The flat surface at the compact Lambert Park would be conducive to quick, limited touch football, so both teams would be hoping to play a little ?pinball? by holding possession and not getting caught on the ball.
Balmain started the match very enthusiastically, putting the Spartans on the back foot by throwing themselves into tackles, and making many forays into the final third of the pitch in the early stages.
As early as the 7th minute, Balmain striker McCormack should have opened the scoring when he raced away from a static Blacktown defence after a long clearance.
Spartan goalkeeper, Saliadarre, however had other ideas as he parried the low shot, diverting the ball to the left to keep the scoresheet clean.
Blacktown responded just a couple of minutes later, when midfielder Matafonov latched onto a long pass just inside the side of the penalty box. He cut inside Balmain?s Grayson, and hit a firm shot into the arms of Balmain?s custodian, Fujiwara, when he may have been better off squaring to a couple of team mates who were eagerly waiting for the pass.
In reply, Balmain?s right back, Sowden, cracked a volley just wide on 12 minutes after reaching a far post cross following a sweeping movement up the park from the home side.
Balmain then had another great chance to take the lead in the 23rd minute.
Keeper Fujiwara took a long goal kick which big skipper, Merlino, did well to flick on, and McCormack was away again as the Spartan defence looked on.
Face with a one-on-one for the second time in the match, Blacktown keeper Saliadarre was brave as he raced out and pinched the ball off McCormack?s feet to again thwart the danger.
I?m sure Balmain coach Kaltenegger would?ve loved to have Buonavoglia on the pitch rather than sitting next to him on the bench, as there would be no doubt the home side would?ve had something to cheer about.
Blacktown weathered the storm for the first half hour, and then had a couple of chances themselves before the break somewhat against the run of lay that almost paid dividends.
Right back Townley-Jones collected a great switched pass just on the halfway, and then pushed on before hitting a real speculator from fully 30 yards that almost caught Balmain keeper Fujiwara napping, the ball dropping perilously onto the top of net.
Then minutes before half time Blacktown?s lively attacker, Jajaw, picked up a loose ball, turned a defender on a six pence before unleashing a low missile from 20 yards that ripped into the outside side-netting, beating keeper Fujiwara all ends up.
Referee Mr Christie had been firm in his control of the game, and let the game flow by playing the advantage rule as often as he could. He finally blew the half time whistle with both teams scoreless, both coaches no doubt hoping to revitalize their troops with some choice words at the break.
Balmain had definitely shown more intensity in their play, but their hard work and tenacity had nothing to show for it as they lacked a little finesse in the attacking third.
Blacktown Spartans would no doubt be happy to have kept the opposition scoreless, but needed to take the game to the home side during the second period to try and grab something from the match.
And that they did from the opening whistle, with Semenikow cracking a volley from outside the box straight down Fujiwara?s throat merely 20 seconds of the restart.
Minutes later and Semenikow was at it again for Blacktown, this time ballooning his effort after Matafonov had made the initial inroad down the flank.
The Spartans continued their renewed zest with Todd slipping a great pass behind the Balmain defence in the 54th minute, only for Fujiwara to save at the feet of the dangerous Jajaw.
Balmain had had enough, and brought on the young Mustafa for out-of-luck McCormack on the hour mark, and his composure on the ball was there for everyone to see as he constantly looked to open the Spartan defence.
On 73 minutes Mustafa picked up a short corner and unleashed a thunderbolt that flew wide of the mark, but at least the youngster was prepared to have a go and try and win his team the points.
Todd then replied for Blacktown when he got on the end of far post cross from substitute Malouf, his downward header well held by the focused Fujiwara in the Balmain goal.
Both teams had one last throw of the dice near the end of the game that could?ve picked up the spoils.
Blacktown?s rampaging midfielder Todd made a mazy run down the wing, cutting across the goal line beating three would be defenders in the process.
He wasted the opportunity by blasting high from an acute angle where he may have been better off cutting the ball back for a team mate.
Then Balmain almost pinched it at the death. Andrews pushed forward down the middle of the park, and hit a shot that flew off his boot diagonally. Merlino, escaping the shackles of Blacktown?s Awola, threw himself at the ball only to divert it wide of the goal as the Spartans fans had their hearts in their mouths.
So Mr Christie brought an end to proceedings, with both teams relatively happy to grab a point in a tight struggle.
Balmain?s assistant coach, Johhny Buonavoglia, was content with some aspects of his team?s game. ?Given we haven?t played many games this year, we kept shape really well and looked like we had been playing half a season,? said Buonavoglia.
?But we really need to show more composure on the ball, and not have rushes of blood when in the final third of the pitch,? he added.
When asked Buonavoglia what he and (head coach) Kaltenegger were aiming for in Balmain?s first season in Division One, he said. ?I think a lot of teams may underestimate us. We are a solid team, and we will be the quiet achievers. Given history is against teams that are promoted, we are aiming to stabilize in Division One and build a foundation to grow on from there.?
Blacktown Spartans? coach Ben de Haan was thrilled with his young team?s performance on the night. ?Given the youth and inexperience in our team, I was happy we kept them scoreless in the first half, and they way we worked hard and kept possession, especially in the second half,? said de Haan.
?Today we lacked that creativity and movement in attack, but we have some quality players and will be aiming no doubt for a finals spot come end of season,? predicted de Haan.
On the night, Balmain had a host of hard workers, but tall midfielder Andrews was one of his team?s best by being effective in the tackle and precise in his distribution. Keeper Fujiwara was as always ever alert to any danger when called upon, and his agility is there for all to see. Young substitute Mustafa added some technique when he came on, always searching for an opportunity to sniff a shot or create a chance for a team mate.
For Blacktown, strong central defender Awola was fierce in the tackle and confident as he marshaled his troops at the back, keeping Balmain?s dangerous striker Merlino quiet for the majority of the game. Midfielders Todd and Seo were busy in the centre of the park, often starting many of the Spartans attacks. Finally, striker Jajaw looked sharp and dangerous whenever he had the ball, and the most likely to grab a goal and win the game for the Spartans, yet he was starved of service for some periods, much to the relief of the Balmain defence.
Congratulations to Balmain SC for their first point of the new season, and they?ll be looking to add to that in Tuesday?s catch up game vs Sydney Wanderers. Blacktown?s fourth point from six is a healthy return from their first two matches of 2009, and they?ll be hoping to continue this next week when they host Schofield Scorpions.
Match Stats
DIVISION ONE
Round Two
Match of the Round
Saturday, March 21, 2009
BALMAIN SC 0
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 0
at Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee ? Mr. David Christie
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr. David Ward & Mr. Mare Nemorin
BALMAIN SC ; 1. H. Fujiwara, 2. T. Sowden, 3. D. McParland, 4. C. Grayson, 5. E. Byrne, 6. C. Andrews, 7. C. Modena (14. J. Gothe-Snape 80?), 8. L. Merlino ?, 9. L. McCormack (12. C. Mustafa 57?), 10. S. Byrne, 11. J. Deasey (15. D. Hardwick 75?).
Subs not used ? 13.J.Richardson, RGK.J.Delaney.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS ; 1. C. Saliadarre, 3. J. Awola, 14. D. Cornett, 11. W. Jajaw, 8. A. Matafonou (17. M. Malouf 63?), 16. B. Semenikow (15. A. Machado 71?), 7. M. Todd, 2. C. Townley-Jones, 4. R. Wilson, 6. T.J. Seo, 5. A. Stevenson.
Subs not used ? 10.G. Kamara, 18. M. Georgy, 20. W. Cordina.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Two
The scoreboard attendant at Arlington Oval was kept very busy indeed on Saturday night as the visiting Mounties FC prevailed against the Stanmore Hawks in a seven goal thriller.
Mounties started the better and hit the lead with two goals in the first period, both coming from Cao on 20 and 36 minutes.
But the Hawks came out flapping their wings after the break, with Pecoul eventually pulling one back in the 65th minute.
Baldock restored the Mounties two goal advantage on 68 minutes, but Stanmore?s James made it 2-3 only a minute later, and it was game on.
The home side kept at it, and looked to have grabbed a point when Pecoul scored his second of the match with a goal on 88 minutes.
But the Mounties weren?t satisfied with a draw, and McCann?s 90th goal meant they went home with all the spoils in a goal-fest for the spectators.
Schofield Scorpions made it two wins from two matches with a 2-0 victory at Hadjuk Stadium against Sydney Wanderers.
McPherson (59?) and Aitken (68?) were the goalscorers for the visitors, giving the Scorpions outright leadership of the Division with 6 points and a 100% record thus far.
Hills Brumbies hung on to win a real battle at Second Ponds Oval, beating Fairfield City Lions 3-2 in a cliff hanger.
Shrimpton opened the scoring in the 37th minute, and that?s the way it stayed going into the break. Farrell made it 2-0 for Hills just a minute into the second half, but Sozer replied for Fairfield City in the 48th to breathe some hope into the visitors.
Shrimpton continued his brilliant start to the season as he grabbed his second and his team?s third in the 67th minute, and despite Codmani pulling one back for the Lions just seven minutes later, that?s the way it stayed to kick start the Brumbies season.
At Concord Oval on Sunday, Inter Lions and Dulwich Hill played out a 1-1 draw to give both clubs their fourth point of the season from two games.
It was the home team that started well, and Toscano put the Lions in front with an 11th minute goal to send the Inter fans into raptures.
But Dulwich Hill plugged away, and got their equalizer when the experienced Bove scored with minutes remaining to give the clubs a share of the spoils.
At David Phillips Field, both clubs grabbed their first point of the season when UNSW and Hurstville ZSC drew 2-2.
Young 16 year old Perak was a revelation, opening the scoring for Hurstville on 21 minutes to give the visitors the lead.
But UNSW bounced straight back with two goals in three minutes, Groth grabbing both in the 22nd and 24th minutes to reflect a frenzied first half hour of play.
Hurstville ZSC came out of the second half eager to take something home, and Kostanic equalized with a goal on 51 minutes to share the spoils.
Footnote ? moving forward the top goalscorers in Division One will be listed in my weekly preview of the following round, available on the Football NSW website towards the end of each week.
