It was another wet week in the Canterbury Association with only three games being played in both of our top divisions.
It was a week to remember for one Bill Brackenbury Cup team, getting their first win for the season – while in the Grace Martin Trophy, one team kept their place in the top three.
Grace Martin Trophy
Hurlstone Park 0-1 Strathfield
It was another Saturday night at Strathfield Park and a gripping game of football was about to unfold with the rain adding another dimension of unpredictability to an already wet and wild playing surface.
Strathfield entered this game seeking to reverse their form and to cap off a tumultuous previous week having endured a false start last Sunday (when their game was postponed right before kick-off).
With that in mind, it was Strathfield that would set the tone of the game with a disciplined game of defending and quiet confidence that they could sneak a result out of this game.
Hurlstone Park were creative and purposeful in front of goal and were denied by the bar [on more than one occasion] and by an impressive Rania Acherkouk in goal for Strathfield.
A free kick just out the box right before half time gave Strathfield the break they have been seeking with a stunning strike from Daniella Fierro putting Strathfield in a place they have not been accustomed to: first on the scoreboard.
The second half provided entertainment for the spectators present as Hurlstone Park fought hard to equalise. Strathfield were forced back in their own half for long periods of time but their defense held up admirably and enough was done to ensure the three points stayed at Strathfield Park.
Concord B 2-1 Canterbury
Both Concord and Canterbury were grateful to be able to play a game, even if many of the players don’t like Mondays.
Majors Bay Reserve was the setting for a fast-paced, action-packed game.
Once again, Concord were only able to field 11 players, which included their new signing, Steph Malik who strengthened their attacking capabilities. Canterbury were hamstrung from get go as they could only field nine players.
Canterbury relied on their defence, together with their speedy counter attacks, which was the typical scenario throughout the game.
Concord had the majority of the possession, creating a significant number of chances that were not converted. One of these chances included a square pass across the front of the goal that was met by Amy Falson who side flicked the ball away from the oncoming keeper. The crowd jumped for joy, not realising the trickery had just missed bottom left corner of the goal.
Concord kept up the intensity and in the 17th minute, a low hard cross along the goal mouth by Charlotte Trapnell was tapped in by Michaela Bourbous.
A barrage of shots at the Canterbury goal ensued with numerous shots from Trapnell, Ellen Wlodarzyk, Bourbous, and Arzu Tasdemir. But the score remained the same for the majority of the first half. However, in the 39th minute a low hard shot by Trapnell from near the 18-yard box was deflected with a clever touch by Bourbous, wrong footing the keeper for Concord’s second goal.
Concord started the second half with ten players, making the contest a bit more even. However, the game continued in similar fashion to the first half with Concord maintaining the majority of the possession and Canterbury holding a strong defensive line frustrating Concord’s every attempt at goal.
Canterbury finally struck gold in the 61st minute when a counter-attack split Concord’s defence and Jessica Kanaan was left with the goalkeeper to beat, which she took in her stride and placed the ball in the back of the net.
This goal spurred Canterbury on and soon after Canterbury were again in the clear and heading towards the Concord goal, however Olivia Femia cut across the field and completed a perfectly timed sliding tackle just outside the 18-yard box to clear the ball away from the feet of attacker, preventing a certain goal opportunity.
The game finished 2-1 to Concord, but the hero of the night was the Canterbury keeper who ensured that Concord goals were kept to a minimum.
Bill Brackenbury Cup
Inter 1-2 Marrickville
After a run of five frustrating losses, Marrickville FC have been searching for their first points in the Bill Brackenbury Cup this season. Finding points on the table has proven difficult for Marrickville due to a team made up predominately of new players, however the performances and results have been improving each week.
In a clash against the undefeated Inter Lions, who were sitting in second position, it was the perfect stage for last placed Marrickville FC to find their mojo under the Friday night lights of Tempe Reserve to cause a devastating upset.
Yet only eight minutes in, things were not going to play as an unfortunate error at the back gifted Inter Lions' James Kovas the opening goal.
From here on in ensued a tightly contested match back and forward with a few chances for both teams not being capitalised on. The next breakthrough came at 64 minutes after an incisive cross from veteran Marrickville winger Michele Majavacchi saw Jarret Rigg pinch the final finishing touch at the near post to tie the game up at 1-1.
An unlikely twist occurred with only sic minutes left of the clock when Aidan Whish-Wilson was shown a red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
With even more space on the pitch to defend, Marrickville showed considerable heart pressing on to create more chances with only ten men as the game opened up considerably.
At 90 minutes and in the dying seconds of the game, the ball fell to Marrickville captain Jarret Rigg at the edge of the box who sealed Marrickville’s first win of the 2022 season with a lashed shot into the top corner to end the game 2-1.
Rapturous scenes followed as Marrickville celebrated their first points breakthrough for the season against the previously undefeated Inter Lions
Feature image credit: Photographed with Love
