WET, cold and miserable.
Those three words best sum up the feelings of Marconi Stallions’ fans on Saturday night following the Bossley Park side’s comprehensive 5-0 defeat at the hands of Blacktown City.
A rain drenched Valentine Sports Park was the venue as the reigning league champions Blacktown City delivered an attacking masterclass against the struggling Stallions.
Originally scheduled to be played at Marconi Stadium, this week’s constant wet weather meant the game had to be played at the home of football, and the artificial surface was crucial as there was no the way the match could have gone ahead without it.
From the opening whistle Marconi would’ve wished the ground change never happened and the game called off as Blacktown City raced out of the blocks determined to unleash it full attacking potential.
With the rain pounding down and City in attack formation it wasn’t going to take long for the game to have a breakthrough goal.
Joey Gibbs was the man to break the deadlock in the 13th minute when he tapped the ball home from close range to make it 1-0.
Only ten minutes later the score was doubled. Matt Lewis was too cool from the penalty spot after Danny Choi was taken down in the box.
Not to be outdone, Joey Gibbs stepped up once again in the 33rd minute with a sublime volley from 23 yards out to double his tally and extend Blacktown city’s lead to 3-0.
The half time break couldn’t come quick enough for Paul Carter’s Marconi side.
Unfortunately for the Stallions it was just more of the same in the second stanza.
With a comprehensive lead, Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden took it as a chance to give his substitutes some extra minutes.
The addition of Mitch Mallia in his return from injury provided Blacktown City with extra fire power.
Marconi tried to fight its way back into the game but the combination of Zach Cairncross and Lewis was too strong in defence.
Patrick Antelmi took the lead to 4-0 in the 69th minute with a classy finish from just inside the Marconi 18 yard box.
Mallia made it a perfect return on the cusp of full-time when his curling shot beat the keeper to hit the back of the net and give Blacktown City the win.
It was a sombre mood in the Marconi locker room after the match.
“We weren’t good enough tonight. it was a tough game in tough conditions and we simply didn’t do enough,” coach Paul Carter said.
“The first six games of the season we have been without five players and getting match fitness up to standard has taken long than expected. However at the end of the day I’m responsible and it all falls back on me.
“We just need to work harder. if we do that we will see improvement.”
It was a completely different story in the Blacktown City locker room where it was hard to wipe the smile off coach Mark Crittenden’s face.
“I was really happy with the performance tonight in such testing conditions," he said.
“We pressured high up the pitch and worked hard for one another which was great to see.
“Last week was a tough result but we never expected to go undefeated through the season. To get back in the winners circle straight away is a massive confidence builder.
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 0
Blacktown City FC 5 (Gibbs 13’, 33’ Lewis 24’, Antelmi 69’, Mallia 90’)
Saturday May 2, 2015
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Referee: Christopher Young
Assistant Referees: Danny Horstead & Joon Park
Fourth Official: Matthew Reidy
Marconi Stallions: Nastic; Austin, Drewery (Simonovic 70’), Flood, Lum (Peterson 80’), Nunes, Ott (Rhodes 80’), Schmidt, Shields, Thompson, Tsovolos
Substitutes not used: D’Antimo, Brown
Yellow Cards: Thompson 79’
Blacktown City FC: Vekic; Antelmi, Cairncross, Choi (Mallia 57’), Evans, Fragogiannis, Gibbs, Lewis, Macura, Major (Araujo 68’), Speranza (Tomaras 72’)
Substitutes not used: Prendergast, Beumie
Yellow Cards: Fragogiannis 67’, Major 66’, Macura 88’
Player ratings:
3 – Gibbs (BCFC)
2- Cairncross (BCFC)
1- Antelmi (BCFC)
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