News

BBC/GMT Wrap: Hurlstone Park making inroads

Published Tue 02 May 2023

Hurlstone Park Wanderers remain the only undefeated Bill Brackenbury Cup team in 2023.

Words by Liam Cook

In the Grace Martin Trophy, the top of the table is getting crowded with multiple teams asserting their authority on the competition.

Bill Brackenbury Cup

Marrickville Red Devils 1-3 Enfield FC

Henley Park played host to Enfield’s second Bill Brackenbury Cup victory this season.

Marrickville’s early tactic of playing the ball around the periphery was attached with some risk but their dare made for enterprising football and invited Enfield’s aggression.

Neither team scored in the first half despite Enfield thumping into the woodwork on numerous occasions.

Pressing higher up the pitch in the second stanza, the first goal came from a well-executed Enfield cross that Pedro Linck headed home in the 50th minute.

A penalty against the grain helped Marrickville’s Rohan Sriram equalise ten minutes later.

With proceedings all tied up, it took consecutive Enfield strikes from Adrian Livio and Cory Sharma to ensure a tightly contested win for the visitors.

Balmain DFC 4-2 Strathfield FC

First half proceedings belonged to the hosts who continued their trend of scoring early when Benjamin Ferreira connected to a Matt Newton cross to put Balmain ahead in just the third minute.

Taking some time to adapt to the playing surface at Waterfront Drive, Strathfield conceded a second on the cusp of the major interval through a moment of magic from Balmain striker and new army recruit Gus Stretton, who picked up the ball just outside the penalty box before knuckling the ball into the top left corner.

The sides went goal-for-goal in an entertaining second half, Strathfield’s first a Michael Medaglia penalty conversion that kept them afloat briefly.

Joseph Birds hit back for Balmain but Strathfield weren't done yet as an errand back pass from Balmain's stocky defender, Christian White, handed a golden chance to Strathfield striker Anthony Costa. Costa was denied by Balmain goalkeeper Johnathon Servo, however Strathfield scored off the resulting corner through Christian D'Angelo to make it 3-2 in the 81st minute.

Despite pressing ferociously, Strathfield couldn’t reign their opponents in with Stretton’s second putting the result to bed for Balmain.

The return of a goal and two assists for Ferreira continues his impressive start to the campaign with seven goal involvements in just four matches.

Hurlstone Park Wanderers 11-0 LFC Sports

Fielding just nine players, LFC Sports were no match for the attacking might of Hurlstone Park Wanderers.

Despite their courageous efforts to compete, the top of the table Wanderers made short work of Lakemba, adding eleven unanswered goals.

Doubles for Christopher Arditti, Matteo Pandolfo, and Vincent Giannini came easily as Hurlstone ran riot against an under-siege defence.

The weakened Lakemba side will hope to produce more competitive performances in future weeks with returning troops and training under the belt.

Other results

APIA Leichhardt 3-1 Marrickville Red Devils

Grace Martin Trophy

Balmain DFC A 1-1 Strathfield FC

A tense draw against Balmain A has kept Strathfield’s unbeaten Grace Martin Trophy streak alive.

Unable to convert two golden opportunities early, Strathfield paid the price when Elise Crimmins’ brilliant strike thudded into the back of the net for a 1-0 halftime lead to the home team.

The high intensity game continued in the second with attacking forays proving difficult to execute.

That is, until an Isabella Azzopardi volley in 65th minute gave Strathfield the all-important equaliser to continue their unblemished stretch of games in 2023.

Balmain DFC B 4-3 Marrickville Red Devils A

Balmain B are on the board in season 2023 after claiming a fantastic win over Marrickville Red Devils A.

The contest fluctuated frequently at Waterfront Drive as Balmain started swiftly through Zoe Robertson’s fifth minute score.

Not to be outdone, Mariana Braga and Daniella Merenda signalled Marrickville’s intent with first half goals of their own.

Balmain’s Isabella Bogatai squared things up on half-time with a crucial goal, although their equal footing didn’t last long when Braga added her second in the 47th minute for Marrickville.

Marrickville’s passing prowess forced Balmain to exercise a lot of patience but that persistence paid dividends in a controlled second half display that was sealed with an 81st minute Morgan McCormack equaliser and 90th minute penalty from Aisling Carolan.

LFC Sports 0-11 Leichhardt Saints B

The Saints came out of the gate swiftly against Lakemba to score twice within the first 10 minutes of play.

Space presented itself on the extremities and behind Lakemba’s back line which the Saints exploited to great effect, not allowing the visitors to build attack of their own.

Natashja Eyles was particularly impactful for Leichhardt through ability to press forward and switch the victor’s point of attack, in addition to a powerful long-range goal.

Cooks River Titans 0-3 Concord JSC

Concord moved to equal top of the Grace Martin Trophy table after a hard-fought victory against Cooks River Titans.

The hosting Titans played with control from the get-go but were frequently denied by the desperation of Concord’s defence, who themselves lost a troop through leg injury within 10 minutes.

April Hunter pounded a strike for Concord’s first goal of the contest before a scything Olivia Galletta move from over the halfway line provided the visitors second impact prior the break.

Despite defending stoutly for much of the second stanza, Cooks River Titans couldn’t deny Mieka Figg from slotting a shot over the keeper's head with 15 left on the clock to secure a Concord win.