Spartans pile pressure on top five

Blacktown Spartans confirmed their reputation as the PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1’s comeback kings with two second-half goals to secure a 2-1 win against Marconi Stallions.

Goals to Josh Da Silva and Josh Tanner were enough to secure a fifth straight win for Ben De Haan’s side.

It was a tentative start to the game with both sides careful in the opening stages. 

Josh Da Silva should have given the home side the lead after 13 minutes when Shu Sasaki created a great chance with a deadly ball in.

Da Silva received the ball at the edge of the 18-yard box but could only push his shot wide of the post.

Marconi missed a great chance of its own in the 24th minute courtesy of Jack Press.

The striker found himself in space and unleashed a shot across the goal which beat Saliadarre but sailed wide.

Chances were at a premium with the match locked in a physical midfield battle, which took its toll on the referee’s notebook with four yellow cards given out in the opening 45 minutes.

As the half edged to its conclusion Hayden Morton missed a key opportunity when he headed over the bar from a Josh Tanner cross.

A lapse in concentration from the Blacktown Spartans defence nearly cost them just after the restart when Milorad Simonovic cut through the box.

Luckily for the home side the Marconi front man could only send his shot across the face of goal.

Only moments later it was a different story as Marconi found a break through.

Press proved Blacktown Spartan’s kryptonite as he hammered home from near range.

The lead didn’t last long for Marconi courtesy of Da SIlva.

The midfielder fired into the back of the net with his head, following a curling delivery into the box from Mitchell Long to level the score at 1-1

The goal helped De Haan’s side find some momentum and within minutes the Spartans took the lead.

An audacious curling shot from Tanner had Marconi shot-stopper Jacopo D’Antimo grabbing at air with the defender’s strike hitting the top corner of the net for a 2-1 lead.

A late push from Marconi failed to make any real impact with the Spartans holding on for victory.

Match-winner Tanner was all smiles after the match.

“It’s so nice to hit the back of the net and I’ve done it in the past three games so I’m over the moon,” Tanner said.

“The boys really stood up today and it is great feeling to keep the winning run alive.

“We are playing some good football and hopefully we can continue this great run of form.”

Marconi coach Jeff Suzor rued what could have been a much needed three points for his side.

“When we scored, I was really confident we could hold on,” he said.

“To concede two goal like we did was tough to watch.

“Overall while the result was not great we did well to push a quality side.”

Match Stats

Blacktown Spartans 2 (Da Silva 60’, Tanner 74’)

Marconi Stallions: 1 (Press 54’)

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Blacktown Football Park, Rooty Hill

Referee: Adrian Arndt

Assistant Referees: Leigh Pigram & Mitch Clark

Fourth Official: Adam Vainauskas

Blacktown Spartans: Saliadarre; Crighton, Da Silva (Enwiya 85’), Dileo, Morton, Mutch (Long 47’), Nakamura, Quigley, Sasaki, Tanner, Tomihiro,

Substitutes: Nascimben, Irwin, Andricopoulos

Yellow Cards: Mutch 25’

Marconi Stallions: D’Antimo; De Marigny, Lum (Fitzpatrick 82’), Mijic, Nunes, Ott (Hadid 64′), Peterson, Press (Boutoubia 82’), Rhodes, Simonovic, Thompson.

Substitutes:,Hadid, Sekutkoski, Schmidt

Yellow Cards: Mijic 35’, Lum 40’, Thompson 43’, Simonovic 70’, Hadid 86’, Rhodes 87’