Brighouse notches upset win over Tahs Mariners
Barnstoneworth C grade side Brighouse produced the upset of the round with another determined effort against a side much higher on the ladder.
The green and whites took on the sky blues of Waratahs Mariners at Waratahs Sportsground, with the home side fielding a mostly young side with plenty of legs to run the full 90 minutes.
Brighouse countered with a full interchange bench and a plan to retain possession and pass the ball.
Weather conditions were a mix of mild winter weather but a strong gusty wind which made playing to feet essential.
A shaky start for the green and whites gave Tahs the early corner which led to a hand ball from a Brighouse defender in the penalty box.
Tahs slotted the spot kick home and were 1-0 up after only a few minutes.
As they have shown time and again Brighouse refused to drop their heads and instead counter-attacked strongly.
This led to a melee in the Tahs penalty box and a hand ball from the defenders in an almost identical situation to the earlier penalty.
Andrew Pansini took the spot kick and confidently put it in the back of the net to level the scores at 1-1 after only about 10 minutes of play.
The goal took Pansini’s tally for the season to six.
Brighouse survived a few raids on their goal including a shot off the cross-bar, with the back four and keeper Chad Bliss solid as a rock, to take the contest into half time 1-1.
The second half was a tense affair with Brighouse breaking the deadlock about twenty minutes in.
Winger Mark Brouff, latching onto a ball from Pansini, cut his way towards the Tahs keeper and put the ball into the back of the net to give Brighouse a 2-1 lead.
Brouff, who had started the game with his son Blake on the other wing, had just enough in the tank to win it for his side.
“Pure adrenaline,” Mark said.
“I needed to score one for the team – been waiting all season to make one count – and proud I did,” he said.
