Big goals, big performances, and big results were the name of the game this weekend with entertainment aplenty in the CDSFA flagship competitions this week.

The results kept some teams in their positions while other games saw team leapfrog their opponents on the table.

Bill Brackenbury Cup

There were some big clashes with teams fighting for top four spots meeting this week. Once team kept their victory-streak going, another held onto top spot on the tables, while others have work to do after less than favourable results.

Balmain 4-2 Cooks River Titans

Balmain came into the game high on confidence, looking to make it four wins on the trot under lights. Cooks River Titans had spent last season firmly planted in last place but some good off-season recruitment had them off to a better start to the season with three wins from their opening six matches.

With Balmain and Cooks River sitting in third and fourth respectively prior to this meeting, this early season encounter shaped up to be a potentially important match in the race for the top four.

On a boggy Tempe Reserve field it was a scrappy start to the game as both teams struggled to get any sustained possession in the mud. It was Balmain who struck first midway through the first-half through Ryan Chomphunut, after he pounced on a headed clearance from centre back Thomas Plater and finished a one-on-one at the near post.

It was deja-vu ten minutes later when a headed clearance from Balmain's other centre back, Ben Radford, put Connor Tran through on goal who made no mistake with another one-on-one, putting Balmain up 2-0.

Into the second half, Balmain gained further control as Cooks River legs tired. As Balmain knocked the ball around, Cooks River players became increasingly frustrated, with multiple fouls and bad language resulting in several yellow cards.

Chomphunut punished Cooks River's ill-discipline, pouncing on another through ball from Plater to score Balmain's third and continue his rich vein of form, with 10 goals in his last three matches.

The match appeared to be fizzling to a close before Balmain goalkeeper Griffin Taylor was caught napping at his back post from a free kick, allowing Cooks River to get one foot in the game at 3-1 through Christos Tomaras.

However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly quelled as Balmain left back Christian White burst through the Cooks River defence from his own half, holding off three defenders as he ran half the length of the field before coolly sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-1. Rupturous celebrations followed the goal from the stocky defender.

Shaquille Philip Ali grabbed a consolation goal in the last minute of the game to end the game Balmain 4-2 Cooks River.

Inter Lions 0-4 LFC Sports

It was a tough day at the office for Inter Lions with nine players unavailable ahead of the match, leaving the team with only 11 players in the match day squad.

Things went from bad to worse for Inter as two injuries in the first 20 minutes left the team playing with only nine men for 70 minutes.

Despite this, Lions were able to hold out until the 55th minute when Francesco Giannetto opened the scoring for LFC Sports with a nice cut back, and in doing so opened the floodgates.

From that point on, LFC Sports defended well and refused to let the nine-man Inter Lions into the game with any scoring chances.

Bradley Sibanda scored two quick goals in the 65th and 69th minute before Diego Herrera capped-off a 4-0 win for the away team.

Enfield 1-2 Hurlstone Park Wanderers

A good-natured battle saw Hurlstone Park Wanderers come out on top of Enfield in a tightly-contested match.

Scoreless at half time, Wanderers took a 2-0 lead early in the second half thanks to a brace from Sebastian Coello before Anthony Foti converted a penalty for Enfield to bring the score back to 2-1 with only nine minutes left.

The final period of the game was end-to-end with Enfield rueing a number of opportunities to grab an equaliser.

Overall, Hurlstone Park deserved their win: creating more clear-cut chances throughout the game and defending extremely well.

Burwood FC 2-2 Marrickville

On a cool but pleasant evening at a well presented and picturesque Blair Park, Burwood FC locked horns with Marrickville with both teams in a desperate search for points

It was a fearsome battle with hard tackling amid flowing football and excitement was the result. Both teams had chances in the first half but none were decisive and the score was 0-0 at the break

The second half started in a similar vein with more tough tackling under the now floodlit park.

Not long into the second half the deadlock was broken when the referee waived away a potential foul to allow Simone Polisano to open the scoring for Burwood.

The lead lasted only 11 minutes though as Marrickville worked a good move and a defensive lapse from Burwood saw Jose Acevedo equalise.

The game was end-to-end now and in the 80th minute a penetrating ball down the left to Ryan Henderson saw him cut back into the box and finish with a strong shot to the near corner, Burwood 2-1.

Despite their attempt to hold Marrickville out, with five minutes to go they worked the ball down the right and a hesitant challenge allowed the ball to be crossed to the far post where a simple finish was applied by Jarret Rigg.

Grace Martin Trophy

Some entertaining football same some big score lines and some outrageous goals in this week’s matches.

Cooks River Titans 0-4 Leichhardt Saints B

Both teams went into this match equal on ten competition points but it was Leichhardt Saints who took home the chocolates and solidified their position in the top five.

A cold game under lights, Saints started well and maintained momentum throughout, creating a number of chances and playing some lovely passages of passing.

With Natashja Eyles scoring in the 20th minute, Leichhardt led 1-0 at half time and continued to create chances in the second half with goals to Jasmine Sergeant, Zoe Lindhout, and Lilli Taranto all getting on the scoresheet.

While four goals were scored, it was the defence that set the tone for Saints with Clem Ferrier playing an excellent game at left back and Phaedra Carroll breaking up countless Cooks River attacks in midfield.

Hurlstone Park 1-3 Concord A

It was a chilly Sunday afternoon at Ewen Park as these two teams met for the first time this season.

The field was dry and fast in contrast with the surrounds which were still very muddy. The game started with a tight midfield contest as Concord made the better opportunities in what was turning into a scrappy contest.

The scrappy contest soon turned into a shoot out as four minutes into the game, Isabella Seales took a long-range looping shot which found the back of the net. 1-0 to Hurstone Park!

But the lead lasts less than two minutes as Alyssa Wedd scored essentially from the next play.

The game remained tight after than but the game turned on its head after two quick goals for the away team: Alana Angelis and Sophia Galletta both finding the net for Concord.

The second half was played with much more constructive football from Concord and both teams lifted the standard. However, despite numerous opportunities neither team added to the first half tally.

Balmain B 6-2 Concord B

Perisher would have been warmer than the harsh conditions on the Sydney Harbour at Callan Park on late Sunday afternoon.

Once again, Concord were weakened with two players pulling out before kick-off after having to follow up from the tough double header the weekend before.

Balmain started on the backfoot facing a strong north-easterly and a Concord team keen to take the advantage with their blistering attack.

In the first minute Concord’s Ellen Wlodarczyk showing her ball skills once again, beating three Balmain defenders to find herself face to face with keeper, however was nudged by the Balmain defender just before she took a shot.

But instantly Concord were again on the offensive when Amy Falson received the ball with space to control and shoot: her shot ball hitting the cross bar and bouncing a few centimetres outside the goal line.

Concord continued their five minutes of mayhem when Wlodarczyk was brought down 35 yards from goal and, having already proven herself to be lethal from a dead-ball situation, took her own free kick and blasted a rocket that left the keeper with no chance.

1-0 to Concord.

That was as good as it got for the away team, with Balmain grabbing the lead before half time with goals to Holly Davine and Elise Crimmins.

With the score at 2-1, the second half continued to be a hard fought tussle between the teams with Concord continuing to threaten with each of their attacks: predominantly by Charlotte Trappnell’s runs down the left flank, equally met and defused by the speedy Balmain defence.

Despite this, Balmain kept their pressure too and extended their lead with another goal each to Davine and Crimmins.

Although Concord’s spirits were low by now, Wlodarczyk was again showing another skill in her repertoire when she masterfully placed a well weighted chip over the Balmain defence to put Michaela Bourbous into the clear with two defenders on her heels.

Bourbous maintained her composure and replicated her goal against Canterbury by placing the ball in the top right corner of the goal, well away from the outstretched fingers of the goalkeeper.

Despite the late hope, a collision with a Balmain attacker saw Concord’s goalkeeper, Amanda Corral, taken off: leaving Concord with only ten players.

With a player advantage and a substitute keeper, Davine and Crimmins both scored in the final five minutes to get their hat-tricks and seal a big victory for Balmain.

Strathfield FC 2-0 Russell Lea

It was a late Sunday afternoon game between two long-term rivals on a breezy evening at Strathfield Park. Russell Lea and Strathfield FC are well known to each other and friendships off the park quickly translated to intense football when that whistle blows.

Strathfield looked to dominate from the start, forcing Russell Lea into a defensive pattern for long periods where they replied mainly on counter-attacks to create scoring threats.

Despite the dominance, Strathfield were unable to find the back of the net and the half time break gave Russell Lea the opportunity to adjust: yet both teams struggled to open the scoring.

It would take until the 83rd minute before Strathfield FC finally cracked the Russel Lea defense with a cracking free kick from halfway by Sonja Caraian finding Lauren Williams to score the opener.

The goal provided a huge boost to the Strathfield ladies and it was oonly four minutes later that Pauline Beard nailed the second goal from an acute angle to seal the three points for Strathfield.

Over the years both these teams have provided entertaining games played with a huge amount of intensity. This time Strathfield FC coming out stronger.   

Canterbury Juniors 0-6 Leichhardt Saints A

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

Enfield 1-1 Balmain A

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

Feature image credit: Photographed with Love