State League Division 1 Round 21 Review

DIVISION ONE
Round Twenty One
Match of the Round
Balmain SC 0
Schofields Scorpions 2
Schofields continue on their winning ways
Schofields Scorpions continued their march into the semi finals with a methodical 2-0 away victory over Balmain SC on Saturday night.
After being touted as one of the early season competition favourites, but faltering somewhat midstream as far as the Premiership is concerned, the Scorpions have picked up their act over the past weeks and a series of wins has the other top five aspirants looking over their shoulder.
Lambert Park was the setting on the weekend, the playing surface resembling a dustbowl, and any home fans that ventured out on a chilly evening were to be disappointed with the final result.
Balmain should?ve taken the lead as early as the 2^nd minute when Hardwick sliced his header wide from right on front following a corner.
A couple of minutes later and Peter Hubbard sent over a cross field pass to Southern, who?s angled shot went straight at Balmain keeper, Fujiwara.
The two combined on 22 minutes in almost a carbon copy of the first attempt, except this time the shot flashed wide of the uprights.
The match was very much a midfield stoush, with the Scorpions offering a little more in attack and looking dangerous as they ventured forward in numbers.
Glenn McPherson blasted over from the corner of the box after picking up a loose pass, and a minute later in the 25^th, Peter Hubbard had a header cleared off the line following a deep corner.
Balmain were struggling to threaten the Scorpions goal, but had a great opportunity just after the half hour mark.
Hardwick grabbed possession amidst the dust in the middle of the park, and sent a delightful through ball to Tim Sowden, racing through into the box.
Peter Hubbard did well to block Sowden?s first angled shot, but the Balmain midfielder chipped the rebound towards goal, only for Schofields keeper, Akers, to read the attempt perfectly and pluck the ball out of the air.
The game was crying out for a goal, and it came controversially in the 43^rd minute.
Yet another dangerous corner by Schofields was met by Aitken, who?s left foot low shot towards the far post was deemed to have crossed the line before it was cleared.
One nil to Schofields, and it was almost two right on the break when Reece Iredale controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area, swivelling on a fifty cent piece before shooting, but alas, his blast went high over the goal.
Young referee, Mr Alex Long, was having a splendid game, nipping any over zealous challenges in the bud, and he duly blew the half time whistle right on cue to send the visitors into the sheds with a  slender lead.
Balmain went in search of an equalizer in the second period, but the Schofields defence was standing firm as a unit.
On the hour Balmain?s Lorenzo Merlino flicked on a throw in to Hardwick, but the midfielder?s shot from outside the penalty box sailed over the cross bar.
Reece Iredale tried a cheeky backheel in the 64^th minute following a low cross into the box by Luke Infanti, but Balmain?s custodian, Fujiwara, was alert and gobbled up the attempt.
Iredale was at it again in the 66^th minute, picking up the ball in the penalty area, skilfully dribbling past Balmain?s defender, Darrigo before snapping a low shot from six yards that Fujiwara did ever so well to divert over the cross bar.
The game at this point was on a knife?s edge, with the home side desperate for an equaliser, and the visitors wanting to put the game to bed.
Balmain?s Tim Sowden broke away on 68 minutes, beautifully finding Jake Flower with a cross field pass, but the striker shot firm and straight at Akers in the Schofields goal.
A minute later and we were back down the other end, Luke Infanti very unlucky not to score when his header from a McColl corner crashing against the cross bar and to safety.
Infanti was at it again in the 71^st, racing into the box from his position out on the right, bustling past a couple of would be defenders before his low crack at goal was once again parried for a  corner by Fujiwara in the Balmain goal.
The second killer goal finally arrived for Schofields in the 75^th minute, and it was a set piece out of the top draw that closed off proceedings.
Schofields were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the box, to the left of the goal, and Aitken hit it superbly, curling the ball over the wall and into the near corner of the goal, beating the desperate Fujiwara all ends up.
There was time for one more opportunity each before Mr Long called it a day, with Schofields substitute, Daglis, hitting a cracker from inside the box that was tipped over by Fujiwara, whilst Hardwick?s high shot after Yamada?s cross summed up the night for Balmain.
I asked Schofield?s captain, Martin McCaffery, about his take on the game.
?We worked really hard tonight, spreading it wide, and playing feet, and got the result in the end,? said the inspirational skipper.
?We?ve tweaked the formation of late, making space for us in attack, and it is working well going into the semis. We fell away a little in the middle of he season, but we are confident of going on with it in the fianls series,? added McCaffery.
For the victors, best on the night were; the entire defence were well structured and stood firm as a unit, with Peter Hubbard and Troy McColl doing well out wide, and Harrington and McMahon similarly strong in the middle ; Aitken was busy in the centre of the park, always looking to support the ball carrier, and chimed in with two good goals ; Iredale was a good foil up front, great with the ball at his feet, and involved in most of his team?s attacking forays.
Balmain toiled away as they always do, but didn?t do enough moving forward to threaten the opposition goal. Tim Sowden and Jeremy Richardson worked hard in midfield, chasing and constantly hassling the opposition, whilst keeper Fujiwara kept the score down with some brilliant and timely saves.
Match Stats
BALMAIN SC 0
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS 2 (Aitken 43?, 75?)
Saturday, August 8, at Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee ? Mr.Alex Long
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Paul Faithfull & Mr.Vic Crnkovic
BALMAIN SC:1.H.Fujiwara, 2.R.Darrigo (13.A.Yamada 82?), 3.D.McPartling, 4.A.Trieste (capt), 5.E.Byrne, 6.D.Hardwick, 7.T.Sowden, 8.L.Merlino, 9.J.Flower, 10.J.Richardson, 11.J.Deasey (12.D.Noor 70?).
Subs not used ? 14.C.Andrews, RGK. J.Martin.
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS: 1.P.Akers, 5.T.McColl, 12.T.Harrington, 17.P.Hubbard (13.S.Tyrrell 84?), 3.D.McMahon, 19.T.Aitken (6.I.Bazina 86?),  8.L.Infanti, 4.D.Southern (2.F.Daglis 82?), 10.M.McCaffery (capt), 7.R.Iredale, 14.G.McPherson.
Subs not used ?NIL.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Twenty One
Mounties FC ? Fairfield City Lions   2-0
Mounties predictably grabbed all three points on Saturday night at Cook Park with a 2-0 victory over Fairfield City Lions.
It was two of their most experienced campaigners that did the damage, with a goal in each half, as Christian Care (20^th) and Steve Biviano (78^th) scoring to put the home side on 43 points on the ladder, retaining second spot with one game to go.
Blacktown Spartans ? Stanmore Hawks   3-0
Blacktown Spartans easily accounted for Stanmore Hawks at Francis Park on Saturday, winning 3-0, after Zahra had opened proceedings in the fifth minute.
Todd made it two just after the hour mark, and Browne completed the victory with his 84^th minute goal.
The result puts the Spartans on 36 points in fifth position, setting up a season decider next week against Inter Lions.
Hills Brumbies ? Hurstville ZSC   4-3
The battle of the cellar dwellers provided a goal fest at Second Ponds Oval on Saturday night, with Hills Brumbies winning the seven goal thriller.
The match started at electrifying pace, with no fewer than five goals in the opening half hour.
Pintabona put Hills in front on 15 minutes, and Brown doubled their advantage in the 21^st.
Borges (27^th) and Kostanic (29^th) restored parity fairly quickly for Hurstville, but Friday made it 3-2 for Hills right on the half hour mark.
Darkoh scored in the 78^th minute to give Hills a 4-2 lead, before the evergreen Kostanic set up a frantic finish with his second goal for Hurstville in the 84^th.
But Hills Brumbies were determined, and hung on to record only their third victory this season.
Inter Lions ? Sydney Wanderers   0-0
A scoreless draw at Concord Oval on Sunday means that Inter Lions need a draw in next week?s massive clash against Blacktown Spartans to clinch a semi final spot.
The point sees the Lions move to 36 points, equal fourth with the Spartans, but they have a superior goal difference, and avoiding defeat next week will guarantee semi final football for Ernesto Meduri?s men.
UNSW ? Dulwich Hill   2-3
UNSW?s dream run hit a snag as competition front runners came away from David Phillips Field with a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon.
Dulwich Hill threatened to tear the students apart, scoring three times in the opening half hour or so to take a 3-0 lead at the break.
Enigmatic veteran, Harry James put Dully in front on 21 minutes, before the league?s top marksman, Neil Philippou, helped himself to a brace of goals in the 24^th and 31^st minutes.
UNSW made a dramatic late burst to set the visitor?s hearts pounding, with Stuart Meney (81?) and Rampono (90?) setting up a frantic finale, but Dully hung on for the three points.
-By Frank Speranza