After a few weeks of disrupted scheduling, the Bill Brackenbury Cup and Grace Martin Trophy returned to normal this week.

Full rounds were played on the weekend with no washed-out games.

Bill Brackenbury Cup

Upsets, forfeits, and goals was the order of the weekend in the Bill Brackenbury Cup.

Enfield FC 0-3 Balmain DFC

With Enfield and Balmain sitting third and fourth prior to the clash, both sides came into the match with a point to prove in a crucial battle near the top of the table. Balmain were looking to bounce back after a 3-2 defeat to Inter Lions, while Enfield were buoyed after their own victory against Inter Lions the preceding week and looking to avenge their loss to Balmain earlier in the season.

The match began in familiar fashion on a crisp Friday night at Rudd park with Balmain controlling much of the ball and Enfield looking to play on the counter. In the early proceedings, Enfield looked to release in-form strike duo Marcelo Turdera and Anthony Foti after several sloppy moments in possession for Balmain. However, Balmain goalkeeper Griffin Taylor was quick to sweep up at the back, learning from previous outings and keeping a much higher line.

Balmain struck first in the 36th minute through Benjamin Ferreira, heading in an inch-perfect cross from Liam Denvir down the right hand side. Just minutes later, Balmain doubled their lead after an audacious attempt from captain Will Thackway chipped the Enfield goalkeeper from 30 yards out. Referee Con Vernicos was quick to quell any attempts at a shirt take off celebration.

Balmain added to their lead five minutes into the second half from a Balmain corner as centre back Bunny Radford crashed home a volley from the edge of the box. The game dropped in intensity thereafter, as Enfield legs tired and Balmain increasingly kept possession. The match finished Balmain 3-0 Enfield, allowing Balmain to leap frog Enfield into third place.

Hurlstone Park Wanderers 8-0 LFC Sports

LFC Sports had seven regulars out due to injuries and started the game with only eight players on the field.

While they had some players arrive late to join on the pitch, their lack of numbers showed against top-of-the-table Hurlstone Park.

Burwood FC 3-2 Inter Lions

Following a strong win last week and Inter coming off a loss, Burwood FC came into this game with a lot of confidence – while also knowing a win would be crucial to stay out of the bottom two.

Not long into the game in a rare push forward, Burwood took the lead with a thumping shot from Ryan Henderson that dipped and swerved with Angelo Ruggeri in goals for Inter only getting a hand to it before it smacked the back of the net. Burwood 1-0 in the 13th minute against the run of play.

Up to that point Inter had all the play and had a pile of chances while Burwood keeper Luis Astorga was in great form saving everything.

Inter continued to have the play and pressed hard for an equaliser with Domenico Di Mento making a real nuisance of himself without scoring. Burwood’s leaky defence finally found the gap filler and blocked chance after chance with Astorga dominating in goals

Half time and Inter with the vast majority of possession but one goal down.

Still playing on the counter attack in the second half, Burwood burst down the left-hand side and a beautifully placed ball into the middle was scuffed by James Spinola and easily saved

At the other end, Inter were still dangerous but still firing blanks and Astorga in goals for Burwood was having a blinder.

After a Burwood goal was ruled out for offside, Inter went straight down the other end, hitting the underside of the bar but bounced out while crossing the line. It was the third time the post was hit.

Then completely against the run of the play, Burwood went down the other end for Simone Polisano to hit a 25-metre shot that skimmed off the grass to beat Ruggeri in the far corner.

As the game progressed and with a 2-0 lead, Burwood started to take control but their next two great goal scoring opportunities whistled past the post.

The game then took a turn. Inter hit the post for the fourth time with the ball hitting the inside of the post and whistling across the goal, but this time a goalmouth scramble saw the ball poked into goals by James Covas. 2-1 now the score. Game on.

The game was end-to-end at a hectic pace, this time the woodwork benefiting Inter: one time hitting the post and rebounding to Ruggeri in goals, minutes later a well-taken shot cannoned into the woodwork again.

The game should have been all over in the 85th minute when Luke Hooper side-footed a nice finishing into the right corner to give Burwood a 3-1 lead with five minutes remaining.

But the game took another turn with Peter Vassilis scoring for Inter two minutes later to set-up a thrilling finish.

Burwood were able to gold on, with the win to move them to sixth position on the ladder.

Marrickville Red Devils 0-3 APIA Leichhardt

APIA Leichhardt were awarded a 3-0 victory after Marrickville forfeited.

APIA Leichhardt 2-6 Cooks River Titans

This match was a continuation of a game played last week, with Cooks River leading 1-0 at the 23rd minute before the game was abandoned due to dangerous weather conditions.

With both teams having to use the same line-ups as the abandoned match, the two teams were low on numbers.

APIA Leichhardt kept the majority of possession with Cooks River Titans looking to hit them on the break. This strategy paid dividends with Titans taking a dominant 6-0 lead before APIA scored two consolation goals in the final minutes.

Grace Martin Trophy

The Grace Martin Trophy continued this week after a few weeks of disrupted schedules due to weather.

Concord A 6-1 Concord B

It was an unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon with a clear sky and wind a gusty 12 knot Northerly as the Major’s Bay Reserve surface was pristine for football as usual.

Straight from the kick-off the A's pressed forward against the characteristically dogged B's defence. There were numerous short through balls to A's players which were brilliantly defended by the keeper. There were also numerous offside calls stopping the A's getting on the scoreboard. This pattern of play was broken by B's attacking run which saw Ellen Wlodarczyk weave through the A's defence to find the left hand corner.

Was it to be a repeat of the Round 1 draw?

The short answer is no because just 10 minutes later Alyssa Wedd found her range and slotted a well-controlled goal to even the scores. Very soon after Lauren Angelis got on the scoreboard with a deft chip beating the B's keeper who was having a wonderful game.

Half time 2-1.

The same theme continued in the second half but with less counter attacks from the B's, as playing a woman down started to have an impact. 10 minutes in, Alana Angelis scored the first of her two goals, the second from a very tidy interplay of passes between Lauren and Alana.

The final goal was following a withering run from Mieka Figg down the right-hand side, cutting back an inch perfect pass from the goal line to Madelyn Micalizzi who scored from close range.

Strathfield FC 4-1 Leichhardt Saints B

It was a windswept afternoon at Strathfield Park and despite all the earlier gusts, Strathfield Park put on a stunning sun set and calm conditions would prevail.

The Strathfield ladies have been missing from the action lately and their turn to hit the field today found them looking for some form when that whistle blew to say game on.

Both teams were clearly lacking some match time and the first 30 minutes was a game of one step forward two steps back from both squads.

It clearly would take an opening goal to see who will set the tone for the day and it arrived right on the 31st minute and Pauline Beard would deliver the opening goal and three minutes later it would be Pauline Beard again.

Not to be outdone, Dani Fierro would nail a stunning strike for the third two minutes later and the game suddenly became all Strathfield. Going into the break Leichhardt B would have to find some quick answers to that six minutes of Strathfield dominance.

Saints rallied in the second half and played some lovely football, with a few chances unluckily not converted

It would take the 82nd minute for Alexandra Georgopoulos to hit the mark again, making it 4-0. By the 84th minute Leichhardt would finally get on the score sheet with Annike Lindhout scoring her first of the season.

Hurlstone Park Wanderers 0-1 Leichhardt Saints A

Neither club was able to supply match information in time for publication.

Feature image credit: Photographed with Love