BATHURST ’75 Panthers FC have fallen further from the upper echelons of the Conference League North ladder after going down 3-1 to competition front-runners Balmain SC on Saturday.

Kicking off a three-week campaign in which they play the top three sides in the competition, ’75 fought hard at Birchgrove Oval but ultimately were outplayed by a team who have been almost unchallenged all season.

Tony Clancy’s strike late in the game was the only joy for Bathurst, who were missing the services of captain-coach Mark Rooke after he was forced to sit out the match thanks to a red card last week.

According to Rooke himself it was 10 minutes of slightly careless soccer either side of half-time which cost his side any chance of victory.

“Their first goal came just before half-time after a pretty well constructed play, and then we came out cold after the break and gave away a penalty and they scored again,” Rooke said.

“We had our chances but obviously couldn’t make the most of them.”

The third goal for Balmain involved a stroke of luck after the ball appeared to pass over the goal line before being crossed back infield, leading to another successful attacking raid.

Despite the result, Rooke was extremely positive about the performance itself and lamented that his side had not played at the same level in other losses throughout the season.

“The guys did a fantastic job and I’m very proud of them,” he said.

“We scored one, and had another cleared off the line so with a few bits of luck we could have drawn the match but Balmain are a good side and they deserved the win.

“We will try and simply take the positive aspects out of that game – there were plenty of them – and take that into our remaining games and try to finish the season on a high.”

Rooke singled out Clancy as a standout for ’75, while he also had plenty of praise for his defenders including goalkeeper Chris Moase, Justin Hadley, Nick Dean and Chris Lamberton who prevented the potent Balmain attack from putting more goals on the board.

The result strengthens Balmain SC’s grip on top spot, and leaves ’75 in sixth, two points adrift of Gladesville-Ryde and Springwood.

BALMAIN SC 3 defeated Bathurst ’75 1 (Tony Clancy)