Hatfield brace sinks Ilinden
A Chris Hatfield brace has helped Marconi Stallions breakthrough for their second win of the season as they claimed a 2-0 victory against Rockdale Ilinden at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Goals on either side of the break from Hatfield was the difference as the Stallions ended a nine-game winless run dating back nine weeks to round five.
Rockdale fell behind in the 12th minute as Hatfield tapped home from a Giorgio Speranza cross before the pacy striker secured the victory in the 65th minute when he finished a slick counterattack.
The result means Rockdale fall further behind in their premiership defence and have now won only once in their past five league matches.
A fairly tense affair unfolded in the early stages with only a Marko Jesic free-kick of any note.
However, it didn’t take long for a breakthrough when Giorgio Speranza centred for Chris Hatfield in the 12th minute, who side-footed home and put Marconi into the lead.
Rockdale, behind yet again early in the match, typically responded from the restart when forcing Stallions’ gloveman, Nenad Vekic, into action twice in quick succession.
Amaury Gauthier, making a late run into the box, got up well in a packed area but headed into the ground from a beautifully flighted Bai Antoniou corner but still, Rockdale couldn’t find the leveller.
Marconi was able to stem the Red tide and looked to catch Ilinden on the break but was unable to break through the dominating presence of Bari Kanaizumi and Mitch Stamatellis in the centre of the Rockdale defence.
Rockdale had two great chances 10 minutes from the interval through Alec Urosevski, but Nenad Vekic in the Marconi goal was up to the challenge.
Jesic replied with another viciously swirling free-kick, after being upended by Michael Neill, that crept inches wide of the upright, much to the relief of ‘keeper Bradasevic.
With no addition to the scoreboard, it was the visitors who went to the break one goal to the good in a tightly contested football match.
Rockdale was quickly into their stride at the restart and forced Vekic into a save with an outstretched left foot inside the first sixty seconds. They came close again immediately after and Bradasevic was quickly off his line to deny Mitch Mallia when played through by Hatfield.
Urosevski skipped through on the right and centred for Bai Antoniou who in turn headed just too far ahead of substitute Jordan Figon to reach.
Marconi had a game plan that was working to perfection and a quick counter in the 65th minute led to Hatfield netting his second to double the lead.
It added spring and impetus to the Stallions play resulting in the ability to find space and create a number of half-chances, not least when Jesic hammered a shot goalward only to see it blocked.
The next opportunity fell to Hatfield from a cushioned pass by Jesic in the 75th minute however he blazed over the bar.
With Rockdale committed to pushing forward, his opportunity would surely come again. It t did and was so very nearly spectacular two minutes later when his curling cross-cum-shot rebounded off the bar.
Ursosevski set up Zac Sfiligoi with a clever back-heel on the edge of the box only to see his effort crash onto the bar and away.
It would have made for a grandstand finish but it wasn’t to be for the reigning Premiers leaving coach Steve Zoric a frustrated man at the final whistle.
“I have to credit Marconi, they came with a game plan and executed it perfectly,” he said.
“We left ourselves open to the sucker punch particularly toward the back end of the game when we went to a back three.
“We had a few early chances before they scored and we pushed to get back into the game but our choices were not great today. We have to look at what is going wrong at the back for us after conceding these early goals in games and we have an idea of what we need to do about it and will work on that.
“It’s a disappointing result but we are still in the race for a top-five finish and so continue on in our next game.”
A very pleased Stallions coach, Peter Teskenis, was delighted with his side’s performance
“We were up for it tonight and executed the game plan really well,” he said
“We took our chances well and I feel the return of (Chris) Hatfield from injury has been a real bonus for us and that’s been the difference.
“We took our chances when they were offered, and we created our own luck and now we need to prepare for our FFA Cup match on Wednesday night and make sure we are up for it.
“We’ve had games like this at times this season but tonight was as close to a complete performance so far and it was a sweet victory where everyone put in.”
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 0
Marconi Stallions 2 (Hatfield 12’, 65’)
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Sunday, 30th May 2021
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Hugh Fenton-White & Joon Park
Fourth Official: Nick Kour
Rockdale Ilinden: 1.David BRADASEVIC, 3.Michael NEILL, 4.Mitchell STAMATELLIS (13.Zac SFILIGOI 46), 5.Banri KANAIZUMI, 6.Daniel ARAUJO, 7.Alec UROSEVSKI, 8.Tomaki WADA, 9.Bai ANTONIOU, 10.Amaury GAUTHIER (23.Jordan FIGON 54’), 14.Brayden SORGE, 19.Patrick SAVOR
Substitutes not used: 11.Samual GULISANO, 16.Mohamed AHMED, 22.Enrol Ordonez SUAREZ,
Yellow Cards: Neill 42’, Araujo 57’
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 1.Nenad VEKIC, 2.Nathan MILLGATE, 3.Giorgio SPERANZA, 4.Roberto SPERANZA, 7.Chris HATFIELD, 8.Connor EVANS, 10.Marco JESIC, 11.Mitchell MALLIA (21.Emmanuel PETERS 67’), 14.Anthony FRANGIE (17.Martin FERNANDEZ 84’), 16.Liam YOULLEY (6.Mark RODIC 88’), 23.Brandon VELLA
Substitutes not used: 20.Dion SHAW, 24.Paolo LAXAMANA, 25.Blake ILITCH
Yellow Cards: R.Speranza 25’, Evans 76’, Youlley 85’
Red Cards: Nil
*Player Ratings have now been hidden
By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Micky Brock
