Lokolingoy brace secures Stallions win over Sharks
The opening round of the 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition at Seymour Shaw Park saw the Marconi Stallions eclipse Sutherland Sharks 3-2 in a high-octane game that had all fans in the stands on the edge of their seats.
Marconi generally seemed in control of the game but in the end they were their own worst enemies as they conceded goals late in both halves.
After leading by two goals twice, the Sharks came back to within a goal and almost snatched a point away from the hard-fought battle.
The first real chance of the encounter was the opening goal in the 16th minute when Harry Callahan fouled Marconi captain Marko Jesic in the box and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick.
It was all Jesic needed as the former Newcastle Jets player transformed from the spot in textbook-style, sending Sharks goalkeeper Anthony Bouzanis the wrong way.
In the 19th minute, a Connor Evans corner made its way to Martin Fernandez who blasted from outside the box over the crossbar as Marconi now had some wind in their sails.
A minute later Charles Lokolingoy came firing down the left flank for the visitors and seemed to almost have too much time on his hands, but in the end his beautiful diagonal shot brought out the best in Bouzanis.
In the 37th minute, a defensive error almost cost Sutherland Sharks as Lokolingoy made his way to the by-line and fed the ball to Chris Hatfield, but his powerful attempt was well saved by Bouzanis.
However, shortly afterwards Marconi doubled their lead through Lokolingoy.
Callahan’s clearance deviated into the path of Lokolingoy who created space from virtually nothing to thread the ball into the net from a very acute angle.
On the brink of halftime, Sutherland Sharks got on the ledger when Millgate was stripped of the ball by Nick Sullivan who then charged towards goal and shot on target, but James Andrew, jogging the spot, made sure by simply tapping home from close range.
It was a cruel blow for the Stallions who had tended to dominate the first stanza of play, and one that definitely would have had their coaching staff unhappy in the sheds at the break.
Lokolingoy scored his second in the 51st minute, when a long ball found him charging through the middle and, with all the time and space in the world, he simply headed towards goal and beat the outrushing ‘keeper Bouzanis and restoring Marconi’s two-goal advantage.
Marconi should have had their fourth in the 66th minute when a shot from outside the box by Fernandez beat all and sundry and finished against the post as the Sharks breathed a collective sigh of relief.
However, a few minutes later Marconi’s Roberto Speranza was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in a short space of time.
In the end the numerical advantage really didn’t matter for the Sharks as Marconi managed to still hold the reigns of the encounter.
In the 75th minute a majestic free kick from the right by Fernandez found Millgate in the box and his direct header was stupendously tipped over the crossbar by an alert Bouzanis. It was a very close call indeed.
Lokolingoy, definitely the most dangerous player on the park, was at it again shortly afterwards when he ran towards goal but fired just over at the crucial moment.
Sutherland Sharks had Marconi worried in the 83rd minute when Jason Madonis, through sheer determination, weaved his way through the Stallions defence and, when he was close enough, fired home to beat Nenad Vekic in goal.
Madonis was now running hot and in the 87th minute from just outside the box he unleashed a shot that had the home fans on the edge of their seats, but Vekic was up to the task and made a good save.
Late in the encounter Evans stole the ball and blasted his shot just wide for the visitors for what was really the last chance of the game.
After the encounter Marconi’s coach Peter Tsekenis was pleased with his team’s first outing of the season.
“The first goal that we conceded was a bit casual and they punished us,” he said.
“In the second half we got to 3-1, hit the post and should have made it 4-1, but then we got a player sent off.
“When those things go against you, it makes it hard and then they got a goal, but I still thought that even with 10-men we deserved the victory.
“I am very happy with my team. We gave away our home ground advantage due to the weather so getting the points in this game is great for us.”
His counterpart Nick Dimovski on the other hand was disappointed but still managed to find the positives after Sutherland’s first outing of the season.
“It’s always good to get the first one out of the way even though we didn’t get the result,” he said.
“Tonight’s game was a battle and anyone that wants to beat Marconi will need to play well.
“We have a new team with only about three starting players from last year and that will take time to gel.
“We have some great new faces and I’m happy with the way we finished the game.
“The boys showed a lot of heart out there and they are playing for the club and there’s a long way to go in the season.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 2 (Andrew 45’, Madonis 83’)
Marconi Stallions 3 (Jesic 16’, Lokolingoy 40’, 51’)
Saturday 5th March 2022
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana and Matthew Staples
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
Sutherland Sharks: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. James Baldacchino, 3. Gabriel Contigiani, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 7. Harry Callahan (11. Nikola Taneski 45′), 8. Jason Madonis, 9. Jeremy Cox (18. Mitchell Smith 61’), 17. James Andrew, 21. Michael Neil (14. Chris Lindsay 78’), 22. Nick Sullivan, 23. Mark Rodic
Substitutes not used: 13. Charlie Jones, 16. Beau Ward, 25. Luke Sauer
Yellow Cards: Callahan 27’, Baldacchino 48’, Sullivan 75’
Red Card: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 7. Christopher Hatfield (6. Domenic Costanzo 65’), 8. Connor Evans, 10. Marko Jesic (19. Zac Cairncross 83’), 11. Charles Lokolingoy, 17. Martin Fernandez (14. Jarrod Mckinley 80’), 22. Taylor McDonald, 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 12.Stefan Nikolic, 13.Samuel Gulisano, 20. Dion Shaw
Yellow Cards: R.Speranza 68’, Millgate 82’
Red Card: R.Speranza 70’
Player Ratings
3 – Charles Lokolingoy (MS)
2 – Connor Evans (MS)
1 – Jason Madonis (SS)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo