The touted big Sydney derby game of the season was for the most part a dour affair, with some spark late in the second half providing a 1-0 win to the home side.
A long range 40m ball over the top by Marconi's Angelo Costanzo in the 88th minute put tyro substitute striker Alex Brosque through and, using his body like a veteran to shield the ball from makeshift Sharks defender Jade North, he slotted the ball past the advancing Clint Bolton's right shoulder for a debut NSL goal.
In fact, the game could have been mistaken for a State Premier League game in crowd and standard, bottom of the league at that.
Poor passing, lack of passion, and diabolical defending, 'saved' only by even worse shooting - it was a feeble shadow of the Marconi v. Olympic derby of last season, let alone 6 seasons ago when over 12,000 packed every cm of the spectator areas.
The defending and marking was so poor, especially by Olympic, that there were large spaces opened up where the game flowed back and forth, providing at least some interest.
Marconi were hoping for a home win to keep the momentum of 4 points from 6, whilst Olympic were looking to regain their winning ways. Both lined up in 3-5-2 formation.
The game kicked off on the fine surface, made even paced by the day's light rain, with tentative moves, the first to threaten being a high ball to Tom Pondeljak on the left that he headed into the box for Greg Owens, but it was cleared.
Olympic's first foray ended when Jeromy Harris got to the goal line in the 10th min and cut a skidding ball across Michael Turnbull's gaol but no one was on hand to knock it in.
Marconi came to life when Brendan Renaud bussled down the left, turned inside and made himself enough space to get a shot in but alas it passed across the face of goal and harmlessly away off Paul Kohler.
Jeromy Harris had a chance nearing the 20min mark when he latched onto the ball off a corner but his weak shot was blocked.
It was debated in the press box whether there would be any score given the wayward shooting, and Kevo Gulesserian gave a fine example of that when he received a through ball from John Maisano, got into the area and kicked it well over the bar with little pressure on him.
Then a few minutes later Harris took a swipe at the ball and sent it on target, when Dominic Longo launched himself horizontally so that the shot bounced off Longo and grazed the bar.
Gulesserian beat a man in midfield, to get to a through ball, and entering the area he tried to lob Clint Bolton only to see the ball stick easily in the keeper's hands.
Olympic lifted, and first Andrew Packer, then Lindsay Wilson, then North, and McAllister put themselves into promising situations but failed to capitalise as the half wound down.
Wilson in particular was blasted by his coach Gary Phillips after the game for poor crossing, but he also said "many players need to look at themselves in the mirror".
The second half kicked off with Marconi on the attack, Norman Tome receiving a ball from John Maisano but hitting it well over the bar, followed by Kevo Gulesserian getting into the area but allowing Clint Bolton in goal for Olympic to smother his attempt.
The usually lethal Tom Pondeljak signalled what sort of game he was to have when he knocked a fifth minute shot way over the goal.
Again, Marconi wasted (what coach Lee Sterrey later described as 'gilt edged') chances as Costanzo and then Tome shot off target.
Marconi coach Lee Sterrey was off the bench and yelling, leading to referee Mark Shield to go over and order him to sit down.
It looked like the second half would be little different than the first, but the substitution of McAllister by Nick Carle brought the Sharks a different approach and in the a few minutes he'd taken his first attempt which was at Turnbull, and a screamer off a corner which Turnbull did very well to palm away one handed.
In the 68th min Brosque came on for Tome and Marconi found some new verve through his direct approach. He outran the ponderous Olympic defence but shot weakly.
Christian Care and Costanzo got into good positions but could beat Clint Bolton. It was Gulesserian however who came to life to beat Bolton with his shot only to see Pondeljak back on the line and clear out of his own goalmouth.
Despite some uncharacteristic play by Pondeljak in this match, he quickly got back to the other end of the field but shot just over from 20m.
When Brosque scored on the 88th min there Marconi fans went wild, as they wouldn't have been expecting any result from this game.
In extra time, Pondeljak shot at Turnbull, and Radulovic robbed his defender only to hit the side netting.
The crowd of 2,460 was very disappointing, given the fact that both teams are in the top 6 and the thousands of Olympic fans who already know the way to Bossley Park.
There must be a big question over the way the NSL is going with crowds so poor.
I am of the opinion however that Soccer Australia gave the wrong weekend a rest this season, as it is the weeks before Xmas when people are otherwise occupied, not the one after!
Marconi was best served by Renaud, Costanzo, Maisano, and Beauchamp whilst Olympic's best were Harris, Bolton, and Packer.
Marconi Stallions coach, the vocal Lee Sterrey said he was "very happy with the result", but that his team are still "suffering in front of goal".
Olympic Sharks coach, the former Tongan mentor Garry Phillips said "we were caught square at the back" and "we'll just have to work on goal scoring".
I'd have to admit that Marconi had better of the game and were deserved winners, however the many attempts on goal from both sides that didn't really trouble the 'keeper highlights the dearth of proven strikers in the NSL.