The rain laden skies lifted a couple of hours before kick off, but by then many had presumably made the decision to totally write off the sodden weekend, resulting in a less than originally expected crowd of 4762 turning up to watch the encounter between two of the NSL's founding clubs.
South Melbourne displayed plenty of early, entertaining possession stuff, without threatening Marconi's somewhat depleted defence, but when they did get through, recent recruit Michael Turnbull in goals, dealt adequately with what they had to offer.
Marconi were matching Souths in the possession game, but it was from a dead ball situation- a corner that they took the lead.
Brendan Renaud took one from the "hot chips" end (grumble, grumble..how can anyone replace a beer outlet with a hot-chips outlet?!) and it fell to Chad Gibson who volleyed home from just inside the box after 31 minutes.
Marconi, already without the injured Longo and suspended Babic in the centre of defence were further hampered when Kim limped off.
Half time 1-0, and the Marconi fans read their programmes in expectation of a second half onslaught from the visitors.
Fortunately for the home side, and to everyone else's surprise, it didn't come, and one must wonder if laxatives were slipped into the visitors drink bottle during the break.
Souths seemed content to sit back, rather than go in search of an equaliser...a strange strategy, considering they were one nil down.
Excluded from the above criticism though is David Clarkson, a veritable dynamo, and the Souths number 6 was my man of the match.
Marconi could have scored a few more in the second half, denied by the post/bar and on occasion the goalkeeper.
However, Souths too were capable of sneaking a ( hardly deserved) point until time added on, when the recently introduced Kris Trajanovski got on the end of a long ball on the left, turned inside the box and in 'Kanu' fashion curled it into the far corner of the net.
The return of Maloney to the starting line up was a tonic for Marconi, and Souths just didn't seem the same to me without Trimboli in their side.
Michael Turnbull in goals, after a nervous start grew in stature as the game progressed, and had a memorable double save late in the game, which will no doubt enhance his confidence.
The match also revealed GroundsKeeper Willie's artistic bent.
Instead of taking up his normal place behind the goals to shout alcoholic induced abuse at all and sundry, he preferred to stand with the mothers and fathers of the pre match entertainers, no doubt offering his advice on the artistic content of their performances, at least until his thirst got the better of him.
Marconi's changing....no doubt about it!