A top-of-the-table clash was the highlight of the week in the Bill Brackenbury Cup with first and second place giving a potential preview to what fans can expect in finals.
Elsewhere, double headers, forfeits and upsets capped off a drama-filled round of action.
Inter Lions 6-1 Cooks River Titans
Cooks River Titans travelled to Ron Routley Oval looking to cause an upset after a short turnaround from their loss to Balmain two days earlier. Similarly, Inter Lions also headed into this fixture after a narrow loss to Burwood in their previous fixture.
Both sides were missing key players for this match and the quality in the Lions side was on display through their first half performance. Inter were rewarded for their dominance in the 17th minute via a cut back and well-placed shot into the bottom right corner by Reuben Lagos.
It didn’t take long for the Lions to extend their lead with James Kovas clinically finishing two swift attacking moves in similar fashion in the 18th and 22nd minute, to give Inter a 3-0 lead inside the first 25 minutes.
The Titans had their chances late in the first half to reduce the deficit with a 6-yard header missed at the far post from a corner and a low driven shot across goal narrowly missing the upright.
The second half started with the Titans looking to push players forward and put pressure on the Inter defence, however they were caught on the counter-attack three minutes into the half. Nick Paradisis’ movement into the box found himself unmarked at the far post to calmly slot the ball into the net for a simple finish to make it 4-0 to Inter.
Peter Vassilis added to Inter’s goal tally for the evening and was rewarded for his efforts with a goal in the 70th minute.
Cooks River were eventually able to break down the Inter defence and were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 75th minute via Furkan Rendeci scoring at the near post from a low cross.
Inter had the final impact on the night with Con Pavlidis capitalising on a loose ricochet ball in the Titans penalty area and neatly side footing Inter’s sixth goal in the 88th minute.
Cooks River Titans 3-2 Enfield FC
Bennett Park hosted the Round 16 fixture between these two sides that ended in a five-goal thriller.
Cooks River Titans had their third game in six days while Enfield had not been in action for two weeks since their loss Balmain. Both teams headed into this fixture looking to return to the winner’s circle after tough losses and were keen to put in a strong performance.
The game started off as an even affair with both teams having the ball and completing effective passing sequences in an attempt to dominate play.
It didn’t take long for Enfield’s attack to produce the game’s first goal with Anthony Foti breaking through along the Titan’s backline and cutting back for Marcelo Turdera at the near post to score in the eight minute.
The Titans had to respond quickly or risk losing touch and were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet on two separate occasions: Christos Tomaras broke through on goal and hit the base of the upright with a stinging low left foot volley and David Da Cruz hitting the crossbar minutes later.
Cooks River levelled the match in the 37th minute through Furkan Rendeci after a well struck long range free kick from Daniel Curro was spilled into the path of Rendeci to score and end the half at 1-1.
The second half resumed in similar fashion with the two teams evenly matched for the first 15 minutes of play, with action at both ends of the field requiring the centre backs of both teams, Nicholas Dimitropoulos and Sam Grasso to repeatedly nullify dangerous attacks.
Enfield had restored their lead in the 62nd minute after a quick free kick was taken inside the Titans half that resulted in a pin-point cross from Dominic Cavagnino out on the wing, to find Anthony Foti unmarked in the box to rise and header Enfield’s second goal of the day.
Enfield’s lead did not last long when Jameel Ali passed an accurate ball over the top of Enfield’s defensive line from the right wing for Furkan Rendeci to score his second of the day in the 70th minute, and restore parity at 2-2.
The match was poised for either side to claim the winner and the chance was crucially taken by the Titans inside the last ten minutes. Furkan Rendeci was on hand in the penalty box again to score his third, and hat-trick, in the 83rd minute of play finishing off an effective attacking move by Christos Tomaras and Andy Theodorou.
The end-to-end game would continue to serve up entertainment with the Titans gifting possession via an error in the middle of field, allowing Enfield to break through one on one with the Titans’ keeper James Aronis with minutes left to play.
Aronis ensured the Titans would seal the victory with a great low reflex save and deny Enfield earning a point.
Marrickville 2-1 Inter Lions
Inter came into this match on the back of an impressive win over Cooks River Titans but were stung by ill-discipline and a strong start from the young Marrickville team.
Four yellow cards for Inter in the opening 25 minutes and a sin bin gave the Red Devils an opportunity they did not refuse: scoring twice to open a 2-0 lead at half time.
Rohan Sriram and Jarret Rigg were the goal-scorers, both nicely dispatched into the bottom right and left corners.
Inter regrouped in the second half and while their performance was significantly improved from the opening stanza, they struggled to create any clear-cut chances until a penalty was awarded.
Giancarlo Papaianni converted from the spot but it was not enough as Marrickville held on for a much-needed 2-1 victory.
Balmain DFC 1-1 Hurlstone Park Wanderers
Hurlstone Park Wanderers and Balmain DFC came into the game knowing that their places on the league table were all but assured with both teams comfortable in first and second place respectively.
However, the game was anything but a dead rubber ahead of the upcoming finals and Balmain looking to avenge an 8-0 loss in the reverse fixture.
The match was played at a frenetic pace in the early exchanges under the floodlights at Callan park, with both sides trying to take hold of the ball. Both sides pressed heavily and struggled to maintain any controlled possession on a bumpy Callan Park pitch.
Good quality chances were at a premium in the first half, with the teams resorting to long shots and hopeful balls over the top. Despite this, it was a moment of real quality that opened up the game right at the death of the first half, with a chipped ball from Balmain's midfield finding right back Nick Jackson on the overlap, who found leading scorer Ryan Chomphunut in the middle for the opener.
Into the second half, chances for both sides were similarly restricted. Balmain became increasingly penned back as Hurlstone Park resorted to long diagonals to try to prise open the defence. Balmain's defence remained resolute, and goalkeeper Griffin Taylor came out to sweep and pluck balls from the air to great effect.
One particular slide tackle from centre back Tommy Plater had the crowd in awe at the miraculous cover pace and tackle. Just as it looked that Balmain would hold out the league leaders, a penalty was awarded in the 87th minute to Hurlstone Park for a foul in the box.
Vincent Giannini coolly sent Taylor the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1.
The draw was Balmain's first dropped points under lights and Hurlstone Park's first dropped points of the campaign. The high-quality match provided an excellent preview for the upcoming finals in which both sides will hope to contest for silverware.
Burwood FC 2-3 Balmain DFC
Neither club submitted match information in time for publication.
LFC Sports 3-0 APIA Leichhardt
LFC Sports were awarded a 3-0 victory after APIA Leichhardt forfeited.
Feature image credit: Photographed with Love
