Stallions overpower Spartans in tight contest
Marconi Stallions coach Jean Paul De Marigny has claimed his team’s season starts now after a 1-0 victory over Blacktown Spartans in IGA National Premier Leagues NSW mens 1 action at Marconi Stadium on Sunday.
In a tightly fought contest both sides had several chances to take control of the game but goalkeepers James Chronopoulos and Carlos Saliadarre coming up with expert saves to keep their sides in the game.
The Stallions included new signing Elsid Barkhousir in their starting line-up with the former Sydney Olympic striker troubling the Spartans defence, winning a penalty scored by fellow attacker Tadgh Purcell to get the victory.
The match stated at a blistering pace with Blacktown Spartans having their first sight on goal in the 5’ minute as Jun Kato’s shot from wide was easily claimed by James Chronopoulos.
Marconi responded with their first chance in the 9’ minute when Barkhousir got around his defender before shooting straight to the waiting Saliadarre.
The goalkeeper was called into action again two minutes later after a swift play by Marconi saw Sean O’Connell switch the ball to Evan Berger on the left whose shot was tipped over the bar.
Both teams had their goalkeepers to thank again in the 17’ minute with two fantastic saves keeping the game scoreless.
It was Marconi with the first chance when Barkhousir fed Tadgh Purcell through on the right whose low cross was met by the advancing Berger only for a Spartans defender to clear off the line. Saliadarre quickly released the ball for a Spartans counter with Kato going through one on one with Chronopoulos saving with his feet to keep the game level.
The Stallions were next to counter in 27’ minute with Purcell switching the ball to a free Berger on the left who took a touch before sending the ball well over the bar.
Marconi had the crossbar to thank on the half hour mark when Kato’s header was parried onto the bar before Chronopoulos dived on the ball to end a goal mouth scramble.
Barkhousir continued to trouble the Blacktown defence and should have opened the scoring for the Stallions in the 40’ minute. After Arrarte found Berger free on the left, the winger crossed the ball with Barkhousir’s heavy touch sending the ball out for a goal kick.
Arrarte again turned provider minutes before half-time with his well weighted corner seeing Purcell get up well with the striker only able to head the ball over the bar.
Purcell had the home fans almost off their seats 3’ minutes after the break when his curling free-kick just hitting the top of the net.
The Spartans were pegged into their own half for several minutes before a swift move saw Greg Kondek shoot wide of the mark on 55’ minutes.
After a long period of sustained pressure the Stallions were awarded a penalty when Barkhousir was brought down in the box. Purcell stepped up to the spot sending Saliadarre the wrong way to give the home side the 1-0 lead.
The Stallions continued to pressure the away side opening them up out wide.
Blacktown’s task became much harder with 7’ minutes remaining when Corey Biczo was given his marching orders.
Despite being down a man the Spartans were not giving up as Zahra laid the ball off to Soane whose shot went well over the bar, ending the game at 1-0.
Following the match Stallions coach Jean Paul De Marigny said he was pleased with his team’s strong performance:
“It could have been more but to be fair we discussed a lot last week and it is the first time we’ve got a squad together,’’ he said.
“Really our season starts now and we are looking forward to that.
“It was a solid performance across the whole park. I was very happy with the clean sheet and thought we dominated the game with the ball quite easily.’’
De Marigny said the signing on Barkhousir was a blessing in disguise for his squad:
“We were always waiting for Joey (Gibbs) to come back from the Western Sydney Wanderers but good luck to him as he got a contract with the (Newcastle) Jets,’’ he said.
“Elsid was made available to us and we grabbed him straight away. He is a great addition to our squad, I’ve worked with him before and I am confident he will fit in well.’’
In the opposition sheds Spartans coach Ben De Haan was very disappointed in his team’s finishing:
“When we had the one-on-one, then we hit the post, put a few over that was time when we had to take advantage,’’ he said.
“It’s probably the third or fourth week where we could have won the game and we haven’t.’’
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 1 (Purcell (pen) 65’)
Blacktown Spartans 0
Sunday 2nd of June, 2013
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C), 3.Ali Haydar, 7.Sean O’Connell, 15.Wade Oostendorp, 17.Tadgh Purcell, 10.Milorad Simonovic (25.Kojiro Hori 77’), 2.Mitchell Thompson, 19.Damien Travis (8.Jared Lum 55’), 45.Elsid Barkhousir, 14.Evan Berger (9.Aman Hadid 86’)
Substitutions Not Used: 21.Stefan Giglio, 23.Christopher Nunes
Yellow Cards: Arrarte 7’, Berger 44’, O’Connell 60’, Purcell 84’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown Spartans: 1.Carlos Saliadarre (C); 25.Corey Biczo, 15.Andre Carle, 38.Zachary Freeburn (19.Simon Zahra 46’), 9.Jun Kato (14.Luke Jenner 84’), 6.Greg Kondek, 3.Nathan Millgate, 8.Brenton Rhodes, 11.Tyson Rhodes, 10.Bryan Soane, 5.Daniel Wilkinson (17.Taylor Reid 65’)
Substitutions Not Used: 20.Luke Turnbull, 22.Dalton Kieran
Yellow Cards: Carle 19’, Wilkinson 30’, Millgate 69’
Red Cards: Biczo 83’
-By Chris Georges
