Blacktown City dash Stallions Premiership hopes with statement win
Blacktown City FC took away the Marconi Stallions’ last hope of taking out the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Premiership with a 2-1 victory at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night handing the title over to Rockdale Ilinden.
A goal in the 22nd minute from Ben Berry was quickly followed by one from Danny Choi in the 26th minute for the visitors, giving them a confident hold on the match after the first quarter of play.
Marconi’s Brandon Vella managed to get the hosts on the scoreboard in the 73rd minute, but despite an abundance of opportunities they couldn’t secure an equaliser to get something from the game.
It was an energetic start to the match as both sides looked to make an impact early, creating plenty of opportunities at both ends of the pitch.
Blacktown earned a free kick in a dangerous area on the left edge of the 18-yard box, passing the kick to Travis Major in a more central position, however his low effort was well defended by Anton Mlinaric.
A corner kick in the 22nd minute gave the visitors another chance as Choi sent the corner to the head of Berry, who guided it above James Hilton, with the ball bouncing on Daniel Bouman’s head on it’s journey into the netting.
Blacktown City were quick to double their tally, this time through Choi in the 26th minute.
Grant Lynch sent a long free throw into the area, which Mlinaric headed to the feet of Choi, who fired the ball home to take the visitors to two.
The hosts sought to get themselves into the match with an impressive shot for Liam Youlley, however Blacktown City ‘keeper Tristan Prendergast made a comfortable save.
James Temelkovski sent a header towards the target in the 34th minute, but Prendergast was again on hand to collect.
Liam Youlley went down with an injury in the 35th minute and Blacktown capitalised on their injured opponent, with Choi taking a shot from range which rebounded off the crossbar.
Costanzo sent a ball into the area in the 39th minute, with Temelkovski meeting it in front of the goal, however Prendergast was quick to react and deny the hosts of the opportunity.
Franco Maya’s free kick in the 2nd minute of first-half injury time was on track to hit the target but was again kept out by Prendergast.
Blacktown were poised to secure another goal soon after returning from the half-time break, with Major sending a curling ball across the goalmouth, however Joey Gibbs wasn’t able to connect with the ball.
Maya had a brilliant opportunity to get the hosts onto the scoreboard in the 56th minute but an alert Prendergast tipped his shot over the crossbar.
Nathan Millgate got on the end of the resulting corner, but yet again Prendergast tapped it over the bar.
Temelkovski’s forward run in the 68th minute looked promising, but an unfortunate touch from Domenic Costanzo saw the opportunity fade away.
Major sent a ball to Choi in front of goal in the 69th minute, but his close-range strike couldn’t meet the target.
Costanzo had another chance in the 71st, sending a header towards the target but it flew wide.
The misfortunate kept coming for the hosts and Maya set up Temelkovski at close range but the attacker wasn’t able to convert.
Their efforts finally paid off in the 73rd minute as some scrappy movement inside the area saw the ball fall to Vella just outside the 18 yard box.
The Marconi stalwart fired the ball into the netting without hesitation to give the hosts a lifeline in the match.
The Stallions came agonisingly close in the 83rd minute from a set piece opportunity.
The ball fell to Maya near the edge of the 18-yard box, whose shot came off Prendergast, popping out to Temelkovski who sent his shot high.
Maya came back minutes later, shooting form range, but his shot dribbled just wide of the woodwork.
Tensions continued to rise in the final moments of the match with Maya being sent from the field after a second yellow for bizarrely kicking the ball away twice.
The strange end to the match saw the final moments of opportunity fade for the hosts, with Blacktown City coming out ahead with a 2-1 statement victory for Mark Crittenden’s troops while for the Stallions it was a gallant effort who pushed for the Premiership only to fall at the last hurdle with Rockdale Ilinden being crowned Premiers.
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 1 (Vella 73’)
Blacktown City FC 2 (Berry 22’, Choi 26’)
Saturday 17 August, 2024
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Jen Courtinho
Assistant Referees: Thomas Gellatly and Joshua Eiser
Fourth Official: Jackson Tippett
Marconi Stallions: 1. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate (19. Kyle Cimenti 68’), 4. Anton Mlinaric, 5. James Bayliss, 6. Domenic Costanzo (24. Mates Busek 86’), 7. Franco Maya, 8. Daniel Bouman (20. Yuki Kitano 86’), 9. James Temelkovski, 10. Marko Jesic, 16. Liam Youlley (18. George Daniel 38’), 23. Brandon Vella
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Cameron Windust, 40. Patrick Williams
Yellow Cards: Bouman 16’, Maya 58’, 94’, Mlinaric 78’, Vella 91’
Red Cards: Maya 94’
Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major, 11. Danny Choi (4. Lachlan Campbell 74’), 12. Tyron Burnie, 16. Ben Berry, 17. Martin Fernandez (6. Adam Berry 70’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 22. Jacob Maniti (14. Mitchell Mallia 70’), 23. Joey Gibbs, 24. Jackson Bandiera
Substitutes Not Used: 19. Julian Rodriguez, 20. Cayden Henderson
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Tristan Prendergast (BC)
2 – Brandon Vella (MS)
1 – Ben Berry (BC)
