Balmain Wanderers

This from special guest roving reporter The Gunn ™.

Reserves: 5 -1

4 headers (MGx2, Paul W and Phil).  Only Gav Harmon let the side down by scoring with his feet!

Gav Russell got injured early into the first half and Michael O moved to RB and had a screamer.

We were 2-1 up at half time.

Their goal came from a free kick on edge of box.  Ian in goal lost sight of the ball and could not hold it.  Their player was quickest to loose ball and scored.

With the club’s leading goal scorer on track for his first hat-trick the coach decided to take him off and wrap him in Andy Corlett’s cotton wool for semi final!!

First Grade

Depleted Jaguars side lost 8-0.

Adam x 2 (déjà-vu – With the club’s leading goal scorer on track for a hat-trick the coach decided to take him off and wrap him in Andy Corlett’s cotton wool that was being used by The Gunn!)
Dave P x 2 (has he got more that Dave G!?)
Beachy x 2
Eddie Fitz x 1
Dean Davis x 1

Scott Ritchie, who has had without doubt the worst luck of any Wanderer this season, wanted to send thanks to all those club members who he hadnt managed to thank personally, that put towards his fund recently. It was much appreciated.

This weekend saw the Wanderers Firsts wrap up first place in our half of the Sydney Amateur League. Congrats boys, was a fine season with many highlights. From Adam nonchantly chipping the Tigers keeper, to Dave G kicking an opponent in the head (accidently…), to Brandon’s string of clean sheets, to Ryans sartorial elegance before during and after the games, to Geordie….The Reserves also secured second spot on the ladder after a similarly impressive season.

Now to the finals boys!

In the final home game of the season Wanderers played host to the reinvigorated Prestons. A win in either grade would go a long way to cementing the club as the minor premiers for the 2008 season.

The reserve grade was keen to erase the memory of cup defeat at the hands of Prestons earlier in the season, but they seemed to forget just how fast they were. An early breakaway was parried by Brandon, and the tone set for the day. Wanderers started to control play a little better and when a shot was tipped over the bar by a Prestons player (who unbeliveably stayed on the park!) The Gunn stepped up. Please see next post for that fun! Gav the Greyhound #2 stole a sweet goal for the home team, but unfortunately the visitors hit back immediately strolling through the defense to beat Brandon. The second half was marked but some enterprising play from Matty Friend, finding some form at the pointy end of the season and getting back his speed in one of his best games for the season. Another smartly taken strikers goal from Gav took a 2-1 lead before a Prestons corner and scramble led to the player who fancied himself as a keeper tapping home the equaliser. The mood in the team was down after the game as it felt to many like a loss with a few chances going begging to take the 3 points.

The Firsts had things a little easier as there was few if any fresh players in the Prestons side, clearly softened by the Reserves… Things were pretty tight for much of the first half, punctuated by a nice goal from Pauly and some tippy-tappy from Geordie (like), and the home team took a 1-0 lead in the half. The days extertions started to show on Prestons in the second half and the home team came home strongly. Pauly added another to his tally and Luke hit home two nice goals, one chipping the keeper from close range, before knocking home a pen to give him the hattrick and send the home crowd into raptures. Some blatant fouls, interesting gesturing to the crowd from the Prestons number 10 and about 5 denied goals to Adam also marked the half and the Firsts look to have the minor premiership sown up for the first time to some years!

One of them fronted Bronski Beat with a soulful counter-tenor voice (thank you Wikipedia…), the other has a two goal scoring streak for Wanderers. Can you guess who is who?

Wanderers played host to Bakhtar Glory, on a welcome return to the home of football Easton Park. It was a must win for both grades keen to grab vital points in the race for the minor premiership. The teams were also welcomed by bright sunny conditions with Easton really turning it on for the faithfull.

The Reserves started well but it was Bakthar who came out of the sheds with the most running, creating a few early chances down their right flank. A spectacular but unneccessary dive from Ryan saved the home team from going down an early goal, and some tight passing from Bakhtar kept the score at 0-0 for some time. That was until Dean Davis added to his scoring streak with another goal. Not a Gunn like scoring streak but at two it was the envy of some on the sideline. This time, as if playing to the crowd, he unleashed a right foot shot to beat the keeper for a 1-0 lead the home team took to the break. The seond half was a different proposition entirely, the Gunn added to his extensive goal haul with a tap in from a nice weighted Phil header which careened off the bar to his waiting feet. That took Gunn to 10 for the season but only his second from open play. The real game winner came when Kieran came off the bench for a starring cameo late into the second half. Twice he managed to shrug off the defence and slotted home two nicely taken goals to push the lead out to 4-0, the eventual winning margin. Once again Kieran was denied a goal at the death, with a professional foul committed, but not called, as he was clear through on goal. This was to go with his denied top corner screamer from the week before…

The Firsts game was a slow start as both teams warmed to the challenge. A fairly uneventful half, punctuated only but some interesting refereeing and loud gesticulation from a fired up Eden, went into the break at 0-0. The second half began pretty much as the first had ended with a tight struggle and few clear chances to either team. The game breaker it seemed was sitting on the sidelines, the injection of Dave G really gave the Firsts the spark they needed. It was an early run from Dave that resulted in him being brought down the box, and set the scene for Adam to step up and put the game to bed. Thankfully Adam showed little trouble in scoring and went clear at the top of the scoring charts much to everyone relief (a top scoring Gunn is not something anyone wants to see…). As a defensive precaution Geordie was brought on to settle things down, and the Firsts picked up another victory on their quest for the league title.

The weekends fixture saw the Wanderers travel out to our home away from home, Bark Hutts, to tangle with the Thirsties. The previous encounter, at the home of football, saw a narrow 3-2 loss for the Reserves and a scrappy 1-0 win for the Firsts. This time around the conditions at Bark Hutts were difficult, there was a strong swirling breeze and the canteen was not operating….

The reserves started with the wind at their back and look good in the early exchanges. A deft left foot from Dean Davis opened the scoring, much to everyones surprise…. Then an even more surprising turn of events unfolded! For the 500th time in succession a penalty kick was awarded to the Wanderers on the back of another handball, and predictably The Gunn strode up to the spot to try and wrest away the goal scoring lead for the club based purely on pens. The really surprising thing was not the succession of penalties, but The Gunn’s shot went straight down the middle. Thats right straight down the middle, not to his comfort zone of just inside the right upright. What a showman, that was one for the crowd! The game progressed as the wind played its part and the Thirsties grabbed one back just before the half to head to 2-1. A quick equaliser in the second half had the Wanderers on the defensive, and a few key substitutions led wrested back the advantage. Gav Harmon back from a nasty hamstring injury provided some nice go forward. The attacking flair led to a few breaks on goal that came to nought, till Gav with his second bite of the cherry threw on the afterburners and dinked the goalie for a 3-2 lead. Some tense moments in the final minutes were averted and the Reserves held on for another win.

The Firsts game started thankfully as the wind started to subside, and some tight early exchanges were punctuated with a screaming shot from Al to open the scoring, no doubt playing for his entourage of adoring fans on the sideline. Thristies grabbed an equaliser shortly after and that is where it stayed for the half. The second half started briskly with the Wanderers pushing for another goal. Ryan was dragged down in the box and Mr DeadBall Specialist Adam stepped up to the plate keen to not let the Gunn take his scoring mantle. Adam scored with predictable ease to take a 2-1 lead. Not long after Ryan went on a probing run to the top of the box, and when most thought he might pass, he unleashed another screaming shot to rifle home for a 3-1 advantage. Possibly two candidates for the goal of the year… Some nastiness from the Thirsties on keeper Brandon kept tempers high and a gave Brandon some nice stud marks to show the family. A consolation goal to Thirsties gave the final score a more respectable 3-2 ring, but it was a workman like performance from the Wanderers in banking another 3 points.