The two sides entered the match in contrasting form; the Falcons high in confidence after two weeks on the road, which saw them, earn a point in New Zealand and then knock Brisbane off the top of the ladder. Marconi on the other hand had lost three out of their last four matches, most notably a humiliating 0-3 defeat at home to newcomers the Football Kingz.

The match began just as the form guide had indicated, the Falcons playing with confidence and spreading the ball around with speed and precision. Marconi in contrast were chasing shadows and looked unsettled with Eddie Krncevic making a number of changes after their humiliating loss the previous week. Eddie started with Babic and Karl up forward in a clear attempt to try and catch out the Falcons defenders with their speed on the counter attack.

The Falcons started lively and produced one of the best scoring opportunities of the match in the 10 minute. Adrian Savage ghosted in at the far post after a long throw caught the Marconi defence flat footed; the impressive Turnbull brilliantly saved his shot from inside the six-yard box. The instinctive reaction save by the young keeper ensured Marconi survived the early onslaught by the Falcons.

The Falcons continued to dominate the early stages of the match with Durakovic, Gotis and Fak combing at the back and linking well with Vargas in midfield. The three man Falcons attack of Nilo, Hutchinson and MacNicol were tormenting the Marconi defensive line, who clearly were having difficulty dealing with the overlapping runs and teasing crosses of Robbie Puca. It was from one of many teasing crosses by Puca that the Falcons again nearly scored in the 12 minute, only to see the ball just pass the Marconi goal with Turnbull beaten.

Marconi almost scored against the run of play in the 17 minute after a scrappy build up saw Brendan Renaud hit a shot from outside the box only to see it hit the top of the cross bar with Bojo Jevdjevic in the Falcons goal unsighted.

The Falcons had yet another great chance to score in the 27 minute, when the hard running Juan Nilo managed to get behind the Marconi defence, he beat a defender on the goal line and cut back a perfect ball to Brian MacNicol just on the edge of the six-yard box. Dominic Longo in the last line of defence brilliantly blocked the shot, which was destined for the net.

Marconi having survived the initial onslaught by the Falcons, were gaining in confidence and battling hard to gain control of the midfield through their experienced leader and captain Brad Maloney. His combination with Care and Zoric in midfield lead to another well hit shot from outside the box, this time tipped over by Jevdjevic. Maloney was in everything and came close to scoring in the 38 minute after Chad Gibson ran the ball out of defence, found Babic who proceeded to deliver a perfect cross to Maloney who headed wide.

Chance’s were coming at both ends with the first half nearing completion; Dean Fak for the Falcons found himself unmarked as he met a perfect cross by Puca, only to see his header go just wide in the 41 minute. Harry Karl in the 42 minute for Marconi did so well to disposes Mehmet Durakovic and head towards goal with only the keeper to beat, only to be run down by Durakovic before he could manage a shot on goal.

Half- time 0-0.

The second half began noticeably more physical, with Marconi looking to take control of the match. Brad Maloney was leading from the front and was dominating play at both ends of the park, bringing Care and Zoric into play to control the midfield. Krncevic made a tactical change in the 51 minute bringing on the experienced Awaritefe for Karl up forward. This had an immediate impact with the Falcons defenders instantly under pressure as Awaritefe found space with his first touch, only to hit his shot straight at the keeper.

The first goal in the 75 minute came from a harmless free kick just inside the Falcons half. From some 50 metres out, Maloney hit a speculative cross-come-shot which deceived Jevdjevic in the Falcons goal. The shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced into the net, with Jevdjevic stranded and red faced. 1-0 Marconi.

The Falcons responded immediately with Kakos just heading wide after a great run by Durakovic opened the Marconi defence. The Falcons continued to raise the tempo of the match in search of an equaliser, but the experienced Marconi defence held tight.

The Marconi defenders were forced to work even harder after the 83 minute when Dominic Longo was sent off for a late and high challenge on Robbie Puca, who was subsequently carried off. The second goal came in the 93 minute on the counter attack as the Falcons defenders were caught upfield in search of an equaliser. Christian Care broke away to find Kris Trajanovski unmarked in the box, his shot was well saved by Jevdjevic, only to see Zoric on had to put away the rebound. 2-0 Marconi.

The match was a perfect away victory for the Stallions after a disappointing few weeks. The Falcons on the other hand did enough to get a result from the match, but a combination of good defending by Marconi and a lapse in concentration by the Falcons goalkeeper, yet again left them empty handed.

The best player on the night was clearly Brad Maloney, his leadership and total control of the midfield was a pleasure to watch. Christian Care showed why he so highly regarded and Dean Fak for the Falcons never put a foot wrong at the back for the Falcons in his best game of the season.

Jevdjevic – Fak – Gotis – Durakovic – Savage - Vargas – Bell – Puca (Katz 83min) – Hutchinson – Nilo (Kakos 70min) - MacNicol - (Sub not used Hastie)

Turnbull – Gibson – Longo – Farah – Smith – Renaud – Maloney – Care – Zoric – Babic.Z.(Trajanovski 82min) – Karl (Awaritefe 61min) – (Sub not used Kim)

Referee: Perry Mur

Yellow Cards: Smith (MS) 4 min, Vargas (GF) 19 min, Renaud (MS) 71 min

Red Card: Longo (MS) 83 min

Votes: 3 Maloney (Marconi Stallions); 2 Care (Marconi Stallions); 1 Fak (Gippsland Falcons)