Stallions stun Suns

MARCONI recorded their first win in this year’s competition, with a first half minute David Talevski goal earning them the chocolates at Illinden Sports Centre. 

The game was delayed for three quarters of an hour due to the inclement weather around Sydney, and both Rockdale and Marconi took time to work into the contest. 

Alec Urosevski was the first to take a shot in anger when he was played in but the striker could only force his effort right at the keeper. 

Rockdale continue to start the brighter, as they attacked down the wings trying to stretch the Stallions defence. They used Takuya Murayama on the right who whipped in some good crosses without any end product. 

Talevski may have been up late watching the Premier League over the weekend, as he tried a Charlie Adam inspired long shot on twelve minutes which skewed wide.

Marconi had grown into the contest getting an equal share of possession inspired by Jared Lum’s effort right at David Bradasevic, who was a spectator for most of the first half. 

The best chance for the home side, came after the half hour mark when Nikola Taneski had a pair of chances. His first was hit right at the keeper after a ball from Murayama, the second a header which looped wide.

Christopher Nunes, who was busy throughout the contest provided the moment which opened up the game. His run down the right created enough space to find the cross for David Talevski to head into an open net for the first goal.

Nunes was again central when he found a pass right before the break, that produced a good save and catch from the Suns custodian. 

The Stallions started the brighter of the two sides after the resumption, earning a pair of free kicks which were close enough for an effort on goal. Both efforts failed to trouble the goalkeeper. 

Toufic Alameddine was brought on at the break and almost created an instant impact. Finding space wide open after a cross, he was unable to force it home and level proceedings. 

This pattern followed for much of the second half, as Rockdale urgently tried to get a goal back. First from Tanevski who tried to side foot his effort into the goal but arched wide followed by Marko Jesic, flaying a similar shot wide. 

Despite the best efforts of the Suns, who were camped in the Stallions half for the last fifteen minutes, they were bar substitute Hristijan Tanoski able to force Sam Nastic in goal much trouble. 

Marconi played out the final minutes and earned themselves, a tough 1-0 victory over a disappointing Rockdale side. 

Match Stats

Marconi Stallions 1 (Talevski ’41)

Rockdale City Suns FC 0

Monday April 6, 2015

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Referee: Chris Young

Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Nicholas Backo

Fourth Official: Tristan Harris

Rockdale City Suns FC: Bradasevic; Hesketh (Makrys ’63), Reid, Murayama, Urosevski (Tanoski ’71), Jesic, Taneski (Bright Appiah ’78), El Hafiane, Petrillo, Dascal, Iwamoto (Alameddine ’45) 

Substitutes not used:  Savor, Visnic

Yellow cards: Murayama

Marconi Stallions: Nastic; Mijic, Rhodes, Lum, Simonovic, Talevski, Tsovolos (Austin ’69), Drewery (Boyadjian ’85), Travis, Nunes, Schmipt

Substitutes not used: Sekutovski, Fabiano

Yellow card: Lum 

Player ratings:

3. Christopher Nunes (Marconi)

2. David Talevski (Marconi)

1. Marko Jesic (Rockdale)

– by Justin Davies, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Reporter, at Ilinden Sports Centre