Wonderful Wolves edge Stallions in classic encounter
They were anticipating a quality match between two in form teams and they weren?t disappointed as the Wolves scored a nail biting 1-0 victory.
Both teams opened brightly, but it was Marconi who really impressed. They looked to be a very well drilled side that are firing on all cylinders at the right time of the season. They knocked the ball around nicely in midfield early, using one touch football to open up the Wolves defence.
Marconi?s slick play seemed to have paid off early when Wolves defender Nick Littler was forced to concede a penalty on 6? minutes. Marconi captain Nahuel Arrarte stepped up to the spot, but his penalty was saved by South Coast Wolves keeper Daniel Collison.
Picciolini had the best early chance for the South Coast Wolves. A melee in the Marconi penalty-area led to a strong Picciolini drive that smashed into the keeper and away from goal.
Marconi continued to press, and off a well taken corner were unlucky not to open the scoring when another scramble in the box saw a weak shot almost trickle over the line. Michael Robinson was well placed on the goal line and cleared the ball to safety.
Joey Gibbs, who stole the show while on trial with the West Sydney Wanderers a few days earlier grabbing four goals in a friendly match, had the next chance for Marconi when a cross was poorly cleared and he found himself on the penalty spot with the goal at his mercy. Unfortunately for Marconi he was off balance and thus unable to attach any power onto his shot.
The game then slowed down for a 10? minute period in which both teams seemed to be content to play the ball around in midfield. The lull in entertainment was finally broken when Ricky Zucco made an intelligent diagonal run and then crossed early for Picciolini to tap in the first goal of the night at the far post.
The second-half came to life when Jack Keating had a goal disallowed after he put the ball in the net from a South Coast Wolves free kick. His ferocious shot was too much for the Marconi keeper, but the celebrations were cut short by the linesmen?s flag.
In the 53? minute Joey Gibbs was put through into a one-on-one contest with the South Coast keeper Daniel Collison. Collison outsmarted the young attacker when he came off his line and smothered the ball at the striker?s feet.
Marconi Stallions were dominating the game and were unlucky not to equalise when Andrew Mailer sent a header wide from a corner.
On 69? minutes Nathan Elasi ran onto a ball that was drifted over the South Coast Wolves defence. Elasi cut inside and laid off the ball to Jamie McMaster who could not find the target.
Elasi was at it again 5? minutes later when he popped up on the opposite wing and out sprinted the South Coast Wolves defence. Unfortunately for Marconi Stallions his cross ran across the six-yard box without meeting the boot of one of their strikers.
Marconi looked set to finally score on 81? minutes when McMaster took a crossed ball down with his chest and wound up for a shot from six-yards out. However, he paused for a split second which allowed Michael Robinson enough time to nip in and toe the ball away.
As the match concluded, it didn?t matter how much possession and close chances the Stallions could muster, they just couldn?t put a goal past the outstanding Wolves keeper Daniel Collison and his courageous teammates.
South Coast Wolves coach Trevor Morgan was satisfied with the points but believed that his team needs to be better by finals time:
?If we are going to play a team like that in the semi-finals we have to be a lot better, but full credit to Marconi because they didn?t allow us to be better.?
Marconi Stallions midfielder Shane Webb was pleased with his team?s performance:
?We went very well, I?m very happy with the way we played. We created enough chances to win three games, but it was one of those nights and it just wouldn?t go in.?
Match Stats
South Coast Wolves 1 (Mark Picciolini 42?)
Marconi Stallions 0
Saturday July 28th, 2012
John Crehan Park, Wollongong
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Tom Lee, Nathan Wotton
Fourth Official: Mathew Cropper
South Coast Wolves: 1. Daniel Collison; 2.Jack Keating, 4.Michael Robinson, 5.Samuel Jacob, 6.Nick Littler, 8.Chris Nathaniel, 10.Sasho Petrovski, 13.Peter Simonovski, 17.Ricky Zucco, 16.Mitchell De Tusco (7.Cameron Littler 86?), 9.Mark Picciolini (11.John Martinoski 63?)
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Hayden Durose 15. Joseph Lavelle, 14.Fabian Iacovelli,
Yellow Cards: Nick Littler 6?, Ricky Zucco 45?, Samuel Jacob 54?
Red Cards: Nil
Marconi Stallions: 40.Lachlan Tibbles; 2. Andrew Mailer (42.Brendan Cholakian 75?), 4.Umut Tokdogan, 6.Shane Webb, 10.Joey Gibbs, 11.Nathan Elasi, 15.Wade Oostendorp, 16.Daniel Severino, 18.Jamie McMaster, 23.Christopher Nunes, 26.Nahuel Arrarte.
Substitutes Not Used: 50.Hamish McLean. 3.Ali Haydar, 8.Trent Barton, 7.Sean O?Connell.
Yellow Cards: Jamie McMaster 49?, Nahuel Arrarte 57?, Andrew Mailer 69?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Josh Watt
