Balmain continue their surge towards the top of the table while Enfield take a giant leap towards finals football.
Meanwhile, the battle to avoid the wooden spoon took an interesting turn with Burwood forfeiting their second match of the season.
Balmain 1-0 Marrickville
Feelings: Balmain came into the match looking to make it six wins in a row against a Marrickville side that had enjoyed a good recent spell of results, despite sitting in seventh. Balmain were firm favourites however as they had a chance to jump into outright second on the ladder.
It was Marrickville who had the better of the initial proceedings, controlling the ball well, particularly through their centre backs. Balmain had several half chances on the counter-attack but their strikers were wasteful. The best chance of the first half fell to Marrickville midfielder Ryan Henderson, who burst through the lines to set up a 1-on-1, only to scuff his shot, forcing a regulation save from Balmain goalkeeper Griffin Taylor at his near post.
Into the second half, Balmain upped the tempo and pressed Marrickville further up the field, forcing several mistakes at the back. Marrickville's attacking thrust began to wane and Balmain had numerous chances to break the deadlock.
In particular, two gilt-edged chances fell to in-form striker Ryan Chomphunut, who on one occasion blazed over the bar spectacularly from just three metres out.
Chomphunut was not to be denied however, converting a header this time from just two metres out after a scrappy bit of play off a Balmain corner handed them the win in the 87th minute. Balmain now have a crunch match against third-placed Inter Lions next weekend.
APIA Leichhardt 0-7 Enfield Rovers
In the first game of a weekend double header, Enfield Rovers got off to a flyer in a dominant victory against APIA Leichhardt.
After leading 3-0 at half time, Rovers kept their foot on the pedal all game to come home with a 7-0 victory.
Marcelo Turdera scored six goals while Anthony Foti got the other.
Enfield Rovers 3-1 Cooks River Titans
Fresh off their 7-0 victory the day before, Enfield were looking to make it two wins from the weekend and got off to the perfect start against Cooks River Titans.
Marcelo Turdera opened the scoring in the second minute after some beautiful football on the left side of the field.
Three minutes later and Enfield had a two goal lead when Dominic Cavagnino scored a screamer: finding the top left corner of the goal from the right side of the box.
It was 3-0 at half time when Turdera got his second of the match [and eight of the weekend] at the end of a quick counter-attack.
From there it was just game management for Enfield: nursing players until the end. Cooks River scored a consolation goal through Paul Koulizakis.
LFC Sports 3-0 Burwood FC
Burwood FC forfeited this match
Hurlstone Park Wanderers 2-0 Cooks River Titans
Neither club was able to supply match information in time for publication.
Feature image credit: Photographed with Love
