The Marconi Stallions just can’t take a trick this season.
As was the case last night when they hosted Sydney Olympic. A cautious approach from both teams meant the game was headed for a draw, which would have been a reasonable result for the home team, who have been struggling all season.
Two goals by the visitors in the last five minutes of normal time ended that possibility for the Stallions.
But that wasn’t the only game on in the south west on a cold Saturday night: a stone’s throw from Marconi Stadium, at Bonnyrigg Sports Club, the White Eagles hung on for a hard earned 2-1 victory over the South Coast Wolves.
It means the in form Eagles temporarily move into second place and lurk just one point behind ladder leaders Blacktown City.
The first half was a little on the bland side, but three goals and a number of scoring opportunities in the second half made up for it.
The Eagles were first on the scoreboard in the 46th minute, but the Wolves responded within three minutes. When the Eagles struck again in the 65th minute that was the end of the session as far as the final result was concerned.
Younis had the home side 1-0 up just one minute after the restart when he kissed a Tynan Diaz free-kick from the left of the box off the tip of his toe into the back off the net past a helpless Manos, who watched on as his defenders failed to cope with a relatively straight forward set-piece.
Manos’ despair was short ived, however, as the Wolves responded with an instant equalizer when David Stojic turned the ball home at the far post to cap off a fine bit of play.
Parity was short-lived, though, as the White Eagles stumped up yet another possible IGA Goal of the Week contender.
A White Eagles break down the left wing saw the ball cut back to the menacing David Vrankovic a good 20 yards from goal and the former A-League prodigy showed all his class when he unleashed a stunning first time strike to leave Manos stranded in the middle of his goal as the ball sailed into the top right corner.
The result was a pleasing one for Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown, who praised his side for another professional performance.
“The surface made it difficult to play open fast football, and credit to the Wolves because they probably should have been up at half-time and they were playing really well,” Brown said.
“I thought the second half was ours and we deserved the result.”
