Marconi Stallions have claimed a crucial 3-2 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s win over Sutherland Sharks.
The visitors bounced back from conceding in the first minute with goals to Michael Beauchamp, Sean Rooney and Marko Jesic ensuring the pressure remains on Rockdale City Suns in fifth position.
For Sutherland on the other hand, it’s a period of transition and Grant Lee’s troops put in a performance which nearly saw them take points off their visitors with goals to Nic Olsen and Hristijan Tanoski.
It was a nightmare start for the visitors who needed to win to keep hopes of a finals spot alive.
Dangerous attacker Nic Olsen combined with Hristijan Tanoski in a well worked one-two before finishing on his left from a tight angle.
The Stallions were understandably hurt and took the initiative soon after. Their first chance coming just a minute later when Marko Jesic’s snap-shot flew over the bar.
Marconi’s main threat though was former Sutherland player James Andrew whose pace had the home side chasing shadows, unfortunately none of his efforts though could level the score.
It was only a matter of time though till the visitors equalised which happened when veteran Michael Beauchamp headed home at the back post.
The momentum was all with them and it didn’t go in vein as Sean Rooney hit a pin-point free kick to give them the lead just before the 20th minute.
Sutherland Sharks came out of the break reinvigorated, Nic Olsen fired a warning shot from distance which took a deflection before going over the bar
It was surprise starter Hiristijan Tanoski however who equalised for the hosts finding space inside the box before finding the net.
Sutherland had a restored belief, unfortunately that didn’t mean a Nic Olsen shot from close range would find the
net, his effort hitting the near side netting
It was the kind of game that you couldn’t take your eyes off and Marconi took the lead once more when Marko Jesic won a contest on the back post with his shot sneaking in at the near post.
Despite plenty of possession in their attacking half, Sutherland couldn’t then break down a stubborn defense and had to settle for a narrow defeat.
Marconi Stallions coach Peter Tsekenis was relieved, “Overall, we copped an early goal and the boys responded quite well. We missed a lot of chances in the first half which made it difficult for ourselves”.
“Sutherland kept going tonight, and we didn’t back out and got the goal we needed which is pleasing”.
Sutherland Coach Grant Lee, “Look, I thought it was a really good effort tonight. The kids were admirable today, we matched it with one of the top sides in the league on paper”.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks FC: 2 (Olsen 1’, Tanoski 59’)
Marconi Stallions FC: 3 (Beauchamp 12’, Rooney 18’, Jesic 66’)
Saturday 4th August, 2018
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: A Arndt
Assistant Referees: A Giev & N Wotton
Fourth Official: T Plasto
Sutherland Sharks FC: 21. Nikolas Loe, 5. Bradley Bartels, 7. Stephen Kayes, 8. Evan Patramanis, 11. Hristijan Tanoski, 15. Nicholas Littler, 17. Leroy Jennings, 20. Keisuke Hayashi (9. Adrian Vranic 80’), 22. Nicholas Olsen (3. Richard Stewart 75’), 26. Harry Sutherland, 33. Thomas Papa
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Ryan Norval, 26. B. Currey, 53. K, Mallet
Yellow Cards: Patramanis
Red Cards:
Marconi Stallions FC: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Marc Warren, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 6. Sean O’Connell, 8. Sean Rooney, 9. Charles Mendy (22. Brandon Vella 60’), 10. Marko Jesic, 12. James Andrew, 15. Mateo Poljak, 17. Theo Kofinas, 23. Christopher Nunnes (38. Yianni Nicolaou 71’)
Substitues Not Used: 11. Judah Cleur, 14. Peter Pelekanos, 21. Kristian Sekurkoski, 38. Yianni Nicolaou
Yellow Cards: Vekic, Vella, Warren
Red Cards:
By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Justin Smith
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