NSWPL: Marconi win with conviction

Who would ever have imagined ten years ago that Marconi would be facing a team called Blacktown Spartans?

Marconi was once called “the AC Milan of Australian soccer” by their former coach, the legendary Frank Arok. At the time of that statement the other was not even a team on a drawing board.

Times have certainly changed and the first round of the NSW Premier League pitted the Stallions against the Spartans.

Marconi Stallions opened their 2012 NSW Premier League with a convincing 4-1 win against a gallant Blacktown Spartans.

The start of the game was most unexpected with three goals arriving in just the first six minutes.

It was a most unusual start for a football match, but it certainly was great for the spectators who were coming out on a pleasant autumn evening.

A free kick from outside the box by Jamie McMaster wasn’t held by the visiting goalkeeper and Keith Shevlin jogging on the spot made no mistake to open the account for the Stallions.

Blacktown Spartans scored their first ever goal in the NSW Premier League thanks to Jacob Ott. After receiving a nice ball, the former Marconi junior finished in clinical fashion.

The fast pace of the game continued when Nathan Elasi was just too good with a good finish to put Marconi back in the lead. It was the first of three goals for the former Melbourne Victory player.

In the 22nd minute Carlos Saliadarre saved well for the Spartans when, coming off his own line, he blocked a shot from Elasi.

However,the former Melbourne Victory player didn’t have to wait too long to score his second goal.

Through a forest of players Elasi was good enough to knock the ball into the back of the net.

After a well-deserved break, it was Marconi through Damien Travis that came close to scoring when he fired into the side netting.

In the 69th minute a perfect cross reached Daniel Severino in the box and the former Gold Coast United player with a diving header forced Saliadarre into another fantastic save.

In the 77th minute Elasi scored his third goal after some forcing play and lead up work by Christopher Nunes who passed him the ball from the left and, despite some close attention from the Spartans defence, Elasi managed to find the net.

It was a home coming for him [Elasi] and to score a hat-trick at home is really great,” Luke Casserly, the Marconi coach said after the game. “He’s a guy that I really believe should be playing at the next level.

“I am really happy with the result,” he said. “It was a long time coming waiting for the season to start and everyone was really eager and keen, so how could you complain with a 4-1 win at home.”

Ben DeHaan, the Blacktown Spartans coach, was left to ponder what it all really means to be playing in the NSW Premier League.

“We made it tough on ourselves with too many mistakes and got punished in a game where we had plenty of ball,” he stated.

“It will take a bit of time because the step up in league is massive.”

MARCONI STALLIONS 4 (Shevlin 3’. Elasi 6’, 28’ and 77’ )

BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 1 (J. Ott 5’)