The top tier competitions in Football Canterbury kicked-off on the weekend through the Bill Brackenbury Cup and Grace Martin Trophy.
Written by: Liam Cook
Despite some reverberations and whisperings of improvement from other teams, big scores around the ground highlighted that last year’s top teams are amongst the early favourites again this year.
Bill Brackenbury Cup
Strathfield FC 6-0 Marrickville Red Devils
Strathfield FC’s first Bill Brackenbury Cup showing is sure to send reverberations across the competition.
Unified in their first top level encounter, every single Strathfield player stuck closely to the game plan and executed their individual roles with aplomb.
Not afraid to engage in one-on-one duels with their Marrickville opponents, the home side counterattacked aggressively, to great effect.
Tireless midfield transition and contest allowed the newcomers to capitalise on 50/50 balls and work the ball toward goal as a result.
Clinical finishing on six occasions, in conjunction with stingy defence, ensured a comprehensive first ever Bill Brackenbury Cup victory for Strathfield.
Goals went to Peter Patsiavoudis, Nathan Guinan, Michael Medaglia, Robert Costa and Anthony Costa (x2).
Hurlstone Park Wanderers 6-1 APIA Leichhardt JFC
Stamping their authority just one game in, Hurlstone Park Wanderers submitted a convincing display against APIA Leichhardt JFC.
Ewen Park Field saw the reigning champions pile on six goals in 90 minutes of football, four coming in the second stanza alone.
Despite the scoreboard dominance, the first half was ultra-competitive with Hurlstone leading just 2-1 at the interval.
The home side shot out of the gate with two goals within nine minutes. Emmanuel ‘no sun’ Nicolaou added a touch of class outside the 18-yard box for the first, while Matteo Pandolfo came out the victor in his one-on-one tussle with the keeper to make it 2-0 in timely fashion.
APIA capitalised on a penalty with Raphael Pulera getting their first score of 2023 prior to half time.
After the break, the title holders decided to go full throttle and run riot with four unanswered goals.
Vince Giannini put on a clinic of his own two individual goals in the space of six minutes, all before a red card to Carmelo Ruggiero exacerbated APIA’s pain.
A second prize came Pandolfo’s way soon after, while Stelio ‘the elf’ Georgiou put the cherry on top of a comprehensive outing. Were it not for the desperation of APIA’s goalkeeper, John Soulios, the result may have been even more commanding for Hurlstone.
Balmain DFC 1-4 Enfield Rovers
2022 grand finalists, Enfield Rovers, made the ideal start to their new campaign with a hard-fought victory over Balmain DFC.
Waterfront Drive played host to a rampaging Balmain team early on in proceedings. Controlling the first phase of play, the home team made life uncomfortable for Enfield goalkeeper Alexander Bendi and opened the scoring in just the second minute through Ben Ferreira.
With attacking opportunities hard to come by, Anthony Foti equalised midway through the half before both sides went in locked 1-1 at the break.
The deadlock persisted for some time, before an Alessandro Macri screamer from outside 30 yards took the air out of Balmain’s balloon, allowing Enfield to pounce.
Adrian Livio’s double in the dying stages displayed Enfield’s passing prowess and put the result well beyond doubt.
Balmain made Enfield fight and scrap for the ascendancy, but ultimately the away team’s class came to the fore.
Grace Martin Trophy
There was only one match played in the opening weekend of Grace Martin Trophy action.
Concord JSC 4-1 Marrickville Red Devils A
There are easier ways to begin life in a new competition than playing the reigning champions but that is exactly how Marrickville Red Devils A kick started their venture into the Grace Martin Trophy.
Torrid, wet conditions greeted Concord JSC and Marrickville at Majors Bay Reserve. The visiting Devils began nervously, conceding three first half goals despite the best efforts of their goalkeeper, Elle Kotsis, who well and truly had her hands full.
Alana Angelis of Concord scored the first goal of 2023 for her team, while Ellie Jones and Isadora Sabbouh also hit the back of the net in the opening stanza.
On the back foot in trying conditions, Marrickville refused to wilt in their debut outing. Keeping Concord to parity in the second half, the Devils displayed their bona fides as true competitors.
The new-comer’s first Grace Martin Trophy goal came courtesy of elegant passing: dutifully and deftly finished off by Natasha Caldromska.
While the back end of the contest was willing in spite of the unpleasant conditions, Concord’s class ultimately shone through when Ellen Wlodarczyk struck from long range for an unassailable lead.
Image credit: Photographed with Love
