While it was guaranteed quite a few weeks ago, Hurlstone Park Wanderers have been crowned league premiers in the Bill Brackenbury Cup at the conclusion of the regular season.
They will now head into finals, along with Balmain DFC, Inter Lions, and Enfield Rovers to see if they can claim the Premiership and Championship double by winning the Grand Final.
Finals Week 1
Major Semi-Final: Hurlstone Park Wanderers v Balmain DFC (5pm Saturday 13 August at Strathfield Park 2)
Minor Semi-Final: Inter Lions v Enfield Rovers (5pm Saturday 13 August at Strathfield Park 1)
Weekly Wrap
There was not a lot at stake going into the final week of matches with the top four all guaranteed their position in finals.
Enfield 1-0 Marrickville FC
Enfield had already secured fourth spot and it would have taken a miracle to climb into third, so the match against bottom-place Marrickville lacked a level of desperation in the opening half.
The first 45 minutes was fairly even, with no great chances to speak of.
Things changed instantly in the second half when Enfield took a quick free kick just three minutes after the break, catching Marrickville off guard.
Joshua Messinis found himself in a good position out wide and put in a superb cross for Marcelo Turdera who opened the scoring with his head.
Marrickville remained in the match for the rest of the game with several chances falling to each team, but Enfield took the win.
Burwood FC 0-3 Cooks River Titans
Cooks River Titans were awarded a 3-0 victory after Burwood FC forfeited.
Balmain DFC 1-0 APIA Leichhardt
It was a low stakes match on a dusty Callan Park pitch with Balmain looking to gain some momentum ahead of the finals and APIA Leichhardt looking to salvage some pride from a below par season.
The game’s initial intensity reflected the low stakes with both teams struggling to find rhythm or bite on the bumpy pitch. Balmain striker, Ryan Chomphunut, still chasing the golden boot, had a glorious chance early on to add to his season tally of seventeen when an intercepted back pass fell to his right boot just 10 metres out.
However, his downright refusal to engage his right foot culminated in a meek poke wide with the outside of his left. Other Balmain first half chances fell to Joemar Birds and Tommy Plater, who both blazed over from close range.
As the match remained scoreless into the second half, APIA increasingly grew in confidence and sniffed several chances on the counter. Their primary attacking thrust came through long bombs from goal kicks and clearances, which strikers John-Paul Foti and Tyson Kaye were chomping at the bit to get on the end of. However, Balmain keeper Griffuel Taylor was again assured under the high ball, reflecting the recent improvement in that area of his game.
The game became increasingly open, and Balmain finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute through Jimmy Pepper, who finished off a dashing cross from right back Nick Jackson with an assured finish into the bottom bins.
A late cameo up top from Balmain centre back Plater nearly left him with a goal and an assist but for some wasteful finishing. The match finished Balmain 1 - 0 Leichhardt APIA.
Inter Lions 3-1 Hurlstone Park Wanderers
Inter got off to a flyer when Peter Vassilis opened the scoring in just the third minute but the goal was soon cancelled out when Steven Georgiou equalised midway through the first half.
Hurlstone Park were yet to lose a match this season and it looked likely to happen when Stephen Kayes put Inter ahead once again with just 15 minutes to go.
The result was sealed in the 82nd minute when James Kovas made it 3-1.
Inter defended well all match with their midfield working hard. It allowed them to take all three points as their forwards capitalised on the chances they had.
APIA Leichhardt 0-3 Hurlstone Park Wanderers
Hurlstone Park Wanderers were awarded a 3-0 victory after APIA Leichhardt forfeited.
Feature image credit: Photographed with Love
