Picture: Football NSW
Marconi yesterday hosted Parramatta FC in round one of PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 and it was the newly promoted team that upset their more fancied rivals, thanks to two first half free-kicks from David Gullo.
Marconi played much better in the second stanza but it was the visitors who held on for a deserved victory.
In the sixth minute a shot by Luke Austin on the turn for the Stallions was deflected off a defender for a corner. It was the first chance of the game.
However, it was Parramatta FC that opened the scoring at the other end in the 11th minute when Gullo’s free-kick from outside the box ended up in the bottom left hand corner of the net.
In the 28th minute Parramatta FC doubled their lead with a carbon copy of their first goal. Once again, Gullo from almost the same spot did the trick but this time he put the ball in the opposite side of the net.
Shortly afterwards, from some distance, Juan Chavez with a very powerful drive almost made it three for the visitors but the ball sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
After the halftime break Marconi came out with more determination and purpose about their play and it was obvious that coach Paul Carter had had a few stern words with his team. They pressed further up the field and scored in the 56th minute.
A wonderful cross from the left was met virtually right on the goal-line by a Robbie Shields volley that was somehow blocked by a back-peddling defender, and then it was left to Christopher Nunes to bring the Stallions right back into this contest.
– by JOE RUSSO
