After 10 rounds, two clear leaders are emerging in the Bill Brackenbury Cup while the race to join the top six is heating up in the Grace Martin Trophy after an unlikely upset.
Read the wrap below for all the information!
Words by Liam Cook
Grace Martin Trophy
Leichhardt Saints A 0 – 1 Balmain DFC A
A mammoth upset has Balmain DFC A’s top six hopes on solid footing.
In defeating the all-conquering Leichhardt Saints A, Balmain have reshaped the potential makeup of the qualifying teams.
The Tigers scored early in what would prove to be a crucial goal through Elise Crimmins.
Struggling for supremacy, neither side gave an inch until Leichhardt’s Emily Farrington was red-carded in a devastating blow for the hosts who would fail to equalise.
LFC Sports 1-7 Cooks River Titans
Cooks River Titans have secured three wins on the trot thanks to a commanding output against the struggling LFC Sports.
Following on from their defeats of Marrickville Red Devils B and Balmain DFC A, the Titans ran riot with goals on Sunday afternoon.
Belinda Seers scored her first of three early before LFC bit back with their only goal through Lilian Santos.
Cindy Kok and Courtney Roulston joined in the fun with doubles of their own as the Titans sealed another victory.
Leichhardt Saints B 2-0 Strathfield FC
Saints B have inflicted consecutive losses on top six hopefuls Strathfield FC.
The powerful Saints’ lineup now boasts an eight-win, two loss record for the season after Sunday’s result.
As always, Jasmine Sargeant was instrumental in the victory with yet another double for the hosts.
Sargeant’s first strike came on the cusp of halftime while her second was added in the 70th minute to ensure the Saints’ triumph.
Hurlstone Park Wanderers 7-2 Marrickville Red Devils A
Stephanie Kontakos continued her amazing form to propel Hurlstone Park Wanderers to a dominant defeat of Marrickville Red Devils A.
Five individual goals for the prolific Kontakos, as well as the opener for Rachael Watson and a goal to Talia Karagiannis was enough the equal-second Wanderers to prevail.
Marrickville added respectability to the scorecard with two second half goals of their own from Besa Biba and Lucy Marta.
Concord JSC 11-0 Marrickville Red Devils B
A ridiculous six goals from Chelsea Johnson was the highlight of a comprehensive Concord JSC display.
Johnson scored the opening goal at the 10-minute mark. Concord was denied on several occasions by some desperate defence and fine goalkeeping, until the 25th when she scored a second. There were further goals from the Concord midfield and strikers leading up to half time.
Half time saw a distinct and more defensive shape from Marrickville which put the brakes on the seemingly endless scoring.
The keeper for Marrickville made a number of solid saves throughout the second half and there were a few opportunities for the visiting striker.
Half an hour into the second stanza the Concord shots started to find the net with more goals to Johnson and the Angelis sisters.
Russell Lea Women’s SC 2-4 Balmain DFC B
A strong win over Russell Lea Women’s SC has kept Balmain B’s slim top-six hopes afloat.
Seeking their second victory of the season, the battling Russell Lea Penguins made a swift start when Anna Errington scored seven minutes into the match.
The Goldsmith sisters, Tasmin and Georgina would follow up for Balmain, albeit in the second half.
Three late goals arrived in a flurry as chaos ensued in the final five minutes.
Rebecca Keywood and Arielle Atkin Bolton made it a sure thing for Balmain, while Lara Bates struck Russell Lea’s second.
Bill Brackenbury Cup
Enfield Rovers 2-0 Strathfield FC
Enfield Rovers are second on the ladder after continuing their winning ways in a narrow win over Strathfield FC.
Little was given away by either side throughout a tense 90 minutes but when opportunities arose Enfield’s class shone through.
Two Strathfield defensive errors proved costly when Enfield capitalised on both with goals to Ronaldo Ribeiro Almeida and Alessandro Macri.
A red card for Enfield’s Sam Grasso wasn’t enough for the visitors to stage a fightback.
Balmain DFC 0-1 Hurlstone Park Wanderers
A strike in the final 10 minutes of play has led Hurlstone Park Wanderers to a crucial victory over third-placed Balmain DFC.
With attacking opportunities hard to come by, the top four sides battled for ascendancy for the entirety of the contest.
In the 82nd minute Frank Calcagno broke the deadlock and Balmain hearts when he rammed home the decider to put Wanderers on top of the table.
Image credit: Photographed with Love
