Stallions notch up their ninth draw of the 2021 campaign

Marconi Stallions were forced to settle for yet another draw, their ninth this season, as they were held 1-1 by Sutherland Sharks at Marconi Stadium on Saturday.

Chris Hatfield ensured the Stallions took home a point with a goal on the cusp of halftime after Sharks defender Gabriel Contigiani opened the scoring only moments earlier.

Sutherland was keen to put behind last week’s lackluster performance against Northbridge in the past and was a much-improved outfit on the night.

The Sharks enjoyed a short lead in the late stages of the first half after Lachlan Everett picked out an oncoming Contigiani deep in the box for the opener.

Marconi levelled the game minutes later after an over-powered back pass from Chris Lindsay gave Hatfield a perfect run through on goal where he netted the equaliser.

The hosts started the better with two clear cut chances in the opening period which should’ve given them an early lead.

Zach Cairncross headed a cross down into the path of Anthony Frangie who couldn’t get enough power or control on his shot and sent wide of the sticks.

Frangie repaid the favour, this time to his captain Marko Jesic, Frangie played a powerful cross into the path of Jesic who got down low with his header but agonisingly saw it denied by the post.

Mitchell Mallia came close with his effort from his free-kick shortly after. His cross from the side of the box sailed past all of the Sutherland defence but was too fast for any of the oncoming Stallion players and his effort whistled past the post.

Both sides began to adapt to the flow of the match during the later stages of the first creating a wild sequence of events.

Sutherland kicked off the final stages of the half on the front foot, they came within inches of the opener after Jeremy Cox’s curling effort narrowly went over the bar.

They couldn’t be denied an opener much longer and found it in the 38th minute, Everett found space down the line and sent a perfect ball into the oncoming Contigiani who slid in to give Sutherland a 1-0 lead.

Marconi was behind for six minutes after the opener and capitalised on a poor back pass to equalise.

Lindsay tried to play back to his defensive line but misplaced the pass and gave Hatfield an open sight at goal. Gerrard Roebuck did his best to meet Hatfield but couldn’t stop the forceful shot sailing into the back of the net as the sides went into the break 1-1.

It was a breakthrough goal for Hatfield who notched up his first goal for the Stallions as he opened his 2021 account.

The Stallions had their best chance in the opening stages of the second half. Connor Evans found a charging Nathan Millgate at the back post, but the lanky defender’s powerful header went just over the bar.

Sutherland answered right back at the hosts with a golden chance of their own.

Liam Youlley displayed a great bit of skill to fake his shot at the edge of the box and gave himself the space to open up for his sides second. His shot was just too powerful and curled away from the top corner.

The valiant Marconi defence was put to the test one final time in the 75th minute. After Patrick O’Shea’s long-range effort was punched away by Ned Vekic, it fell into the lap of Andrew James, he hit the ball across the goal but was denied by Roberto Speranza, the following deflection bounced towards Oliver Green who remarkably tried an overhead kick from the six-yard box, however, his effort went way wide.

Marconi sat deep in Sutherlands half for the last ten minutes but was held out by the impressive defence efforts of the Sharks, as the full-time whistle blew with the sides being left frustrated of not capitalising on their efforts.

Sharks coach Nick Dimovski was happy with the side’s performance and improvement from last week

“I thought we dominated the game, it was a great turnaround from last week I couldn’t be prouder of the team.

“I am disappointed in the fact that I think we scored both goals tonight but we’re going home with a draw now.

“I think the last 10 minutes Marconi pushed extra men forward and we decided to gamble and went for an attacking substitution.

“We’re not gonna die wondering this year there’s a lot of spirit in the team and the club backs the players and backs its coach, that was a great performance from Sutherland when you take into consideration that we had five players out.”

One pleasing site was the return from retirement of Sharks legendary keeper Nathan Denham who sat on the bench.

Match Stats

Marconi Stallions FC 1 (Hatfield 45+1)

Sutherland Sharks FC 1 (Contigiani 38’)

Saturday 22nd May 2021

Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park

Referee: T. Danasleos

Assistant Referees: E. Kocbeck and P. Teleki

Fourth Official: H. Al-Nakeeb

Marconi Stallions FC: 1. Ned Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 7. Chris Hatfield, 8. Connor Evans (6. Mark Rodic), 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Mitchell Malia (17. Martin Fernandez),  14. Anthony Frangie (21. Emmanuel Peters), 16. Liam Youlley, 19. Zach Cairncross (4. Roberto Speranza), 23. Brandon Vella.

Substitutes not used: 5. Mason Ingram, 20. Dion Shaw.

Yellow Cards: Vella, Cairncross

Red Cards: nil

Sutherland Sharks FC: 3. Gabriel Contigiani, (8. Oliver Green), 4. Brendan Hooper, 5. Nic Petrillo, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 9. Jeremy Cox (25. Alex Masciovecchio), 10. Lachlan Everett, 13. Charlie Jones (7. Peter Simonovski), 14. Christopher Lindsay, 16. Gerrard Roebuck, 17. James Andrew, 88. Chris McStay

Substitutes not used: 1. Nathan Denham, 23. Jarad Wiley,

Yellow Cards: McStay

Red Cards: nil

Player Ratings

3: Chris Hatfield (MS)

2: Jeremy Cox (SS)

1: Gabriel Contigiani

By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter, Dominic Criniti (@DominicCriniti)