APIA run riot in Heritage Round

APIA LEICHHARDT put on a football lesson, but Marconi Stallions failed the exam in the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 Heritage Round. 

The Tigers were ruthless, and they didn’t let up from start to finish in their thumping 6-2 win. 
Maybe it was because it was their great rivals Marconi, but APIA took particular pleasure in this win against their great rivals.
Blake Powell’s phenomenal season continued, his two goals taking him to 20 for the season from only 14 appearances. If he doesn’t get picked up by a Hyundai A-League club on the back of this, there is something truly wrong. 
Marc Warren, Nathan Millgate, Franco Parisi, and Nathan Elasi also found the back of the net, while Anthony Flood and Jacob Ott scored for Marconi. 
Powell had an early sighter when he volleyed over the bar.
Warren’s goal, although only ten minutes in, felt like it had been a long time coming. His header at the near post, from Sean Symons’ corner, was unerring, and APIA were away.
Marconi Stallions tried to respond, but the APIA midfield axis of Adrian Ucchino and Symons were dominating the middle of the park.
Only an error would let Marconi back into the game and when it did, it was the goalscorer Warren who gave it to them. 
A cross from the left was headed weakly by Warren, and Flood latched on to the loose ball, leaving Adam Griffiths in his wake and sliding the ball past Ryan Norval.
It was a wake up call for APIA and for a while the Stallions could smell blood. But naturally, it didn’t take APIA long to find their feet once again.
Powell’s long range shot was deflected and needed a decent save from Sam Nastic to keep it out, but it didn’t take long for him to pop up to score his 19th goal of the season.
Neat interplay by Warren and Nathan Elasi saw the latter in acres of space in the area, and he was aware enough to cut the ball back to Powell, who was emphatic and accurate in thrashing the ball high into the roof of the net.
Millgate scored a hat trick in a game for his old club Blacktown Spartans last season, but had yet to find the net for APIA. It was worth the wait though, as a quick free kick fell to him in the area and his first time finish flew in off the cross bar.
It was one for the scrapbook.
Marconi needed something at the start of the second half, but they only succeeded in hammering the final nails into their own coffin. 
Franco Parisi, as elegant as ever, waltzed through the Marconi defence before sliding a finish past Nastic. Marconi couldn’t have been more welcoming had they rolled out a welcome mat, and Parisi didn’t need any further invitation. 
It was as one-way as the M4 in peak hour, and it was only a question of how many the Tigers wanted.
Elasi, who had his best game in an APIA shirt, added the fifth.
Powell this time was creator. His cross was the left was stood up beautifully and it would have been an injustice had it not resulted in a goal. Elasi obliged, heading past Nastic from close range.
Norval had been a spectator for most of the match, but he made a sharp stop to tip over a rasping shot from Chris Nunes on the hour mark. 
Nick Olsen showed delightful skill, as he cut inside and beat three Marconi defenders, only to be denied by a good save by the overworked Nastic.
Marconi pulled one back through Jacob Ott, when he cut inside and smashed an arrowing shot past Norval.
It was only right that APIA, and Powell, had the last laugh.
Elasi’s shot was saved by Nastic, and Powell headed into the empty net. 
It was symbolic, and emphatic.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 6 (Warren 10′, Powell 28′, 78′, Millgate 37′, Parisi 50′, Elasi 52′)
Marconi Stallions 2 (Flood 22′, Ott 68′)
Saturday June 13, 2015
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Raymond Osbourne
Fourth Official: Christopher Hughes
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: Norval; Millgate, Griffiths (Kayes 46′), West (C), Warren (T Rhodes 76′), Ucchino, Symons, Elasi, Parisi, Olsen, Powell
Substitutes not used: Bazi, Biczo, Scott
Marconi Stallions: Nastic; B Brown (Hadid 58′), Donatiello (Simonovic 63′), Drewery (Boutoubia 52′), Flood, Lum, Nunes (C), Ott, B Rhodes, Schmidt, Tsovolos
Substitutes not used: D’Antimo, N Chianese
Yellow cards: B Brown 31′, Lum 41′, Boutoubia 61′, B Rhodes 90′
Player ratings:
3- Blake Powell (APIA)
2- Nathan Elasi (APIA)
1- Nick Olsen (APIA)

– by Juan Lopez, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Editor, at Lambert Park