Controversy over Grant Last's goal in some 'extra three minutes' of extra time allowed by referee Con Diomis marred a battling and unlucky draw by Sydney United in the local derby with Marconi on Saturday night.
At this stage of the season, teams are either on track for the top 6, battling it out, or struggling to keep up. Anyway, the teams should be committed.
Marconi after looking good for 'the 6' fell away and the loss to the Kingz last week should boost their commitment to get this local derby in the bag. Could Marconi find that consistency? With regular goalkeeper Michael Turnbull sick they gave the gloves to veteran big Bob Catlin.
Sydney United, sitting in the last half of the table and under black clouds of rumour that they will cease their NSL career next season, also came into this game with their top striker Ante Milicic gone from their ranks, for much needed funds, to the Olympic Sharks.
One could have forgiven the 'Bravehearts' if they were despondent, even under Branko Culina's tutelage. The rumours were strongly refuted by those close to the club and the players came out and refuted any suggestion that they were ready to lie down on the park.
Indeed Sydney United had the first chance of the game when Solomon Island striker Commins Menapi slipped the ball to the left to an unmarked Ante Deur.
Deur saw Catlin to the right of his goal and hit a solid strike in the direction of the Marconi net, only to see Marconi captain Dominic Longo charge it down from the right and clear it.
Marconi started to take control with positive runs by Brendan Renaud on the left causing United to drop back.
Sydney United striker Daniel Watkins got to a high ball in the area in the 15th min but was only able to glance it wide of the goal.
A moment later Renaud got up to the goal line on the left and put a great cross in however Vilson Knezevic was out quickly to punch it away.
In the 24th min Marconi got a long ball into the goal area where it dropped at the feet of Alex Brosque. The young striker rounded Cunico and slotted the ball past the advancing United keeper however it trickled just wide of the post.
Marconi had been on top to this point but the game started to slip away.
Ante Deur got into position but missed a shot from within the box.
In the 27th min Watkins got to the corner on the right and his superb cross found Menapi free in the area. Menapi got a firm header on it but as it seemed to be entering the right side of the goal Catlin reached down and pushed it for a corner.
Marconi were getting bogged down with under-hit passes on their own heavy pitch but in a rare long ball move Renaud hit a long pass to Norman Tome standing outside the United goal area. Tome, seeing Knezevic off his line, knocked the ball up and over him into the goal for a 31st min lead.
Sydney United doubled their efforts but chances to Deur and a shot from Cunico ,cleared by Costanzo, made it look as they would trail at the break.
A free kick taken quickly by Mendez in the 44th min however outflanked a flat Marconi defence and Ante Deur free on the left shot hard and high into the Marconi net.
After the break it was pretty much all Sydney United however their shooting was either wide or easily taken by Catlin.
In the 47th min Cunico intercepted a rare Marconi raid by Renaud and a moment later Brosque got a ball on the left from Tome but hit his shot wide.
Mendez hit a long range 54th min shot and despite Catlin covering it well he spilled it again, alas no-one was on hand to make him pay.
Paul Bilokapic struck a solid free kick but Catlin was able to push it away.
Promising substitute for United, Christian Cevenini, curled a nice cross from the left onto the head of Menapi. Menapi back headed it on target but could not worry Catlin.
In the 73rd minute Sydney United got reward for their dominance when Talevski slipped the ball through to Menapi with a pinpoint pass, and Menapi turned to slot the ball just inside the upright.
Over the next 15 mins United not only held any attack from Marconi but first Talevski and then Cevenini had chances.
The 4th official held up the card with 4 on it for extra time. Play went on and a very late substitution was made. It looked certain that the whistle would blow and United would gain a well earned 3 points.
It was not to be, for as most observers counted past 6 mins the ball came out to Grant Last, about 20m out, and as it bounced he volleyed it strongly and true for a 2nd Marconi goal. Where the extra 3 mins came from no one other than referee Diomis was sure, especially not the Sydney United bench and supporters. Diomis had an otherwise fine match.
Although it is hard to be positive about their performance Marconi was best served by Angelo Costanzo, Brendan Renaud, Michael Beauchamp, and Bob Catlin, whilst Sydney United can thank Ante Deur, Michael Cunico, Goran Talevski, and Gabriel Mendez.
When the media asked the vocal Branko Culina what he had said to referee, Con Diomis, he was very reserved, particularly compared to what he seemed to be saying to the officials as they entered the players tunnel. When pressed he said, "I just told him I'm doing my Christmas list and he's not going to be on it."
"I'm very proud of my team - they played absolutely brilliant," Culina said. "They played some champagne football and backed it up with some terrific commitment but in the end it just wasn't our day."
Marconi Stallions coach, the vocal and astute Lee Sterrey, said he was "very disappointed Š we didn't deserve it", "we were very flat". "I thought we had a must win focus coming into this game" he added, "but you must question whether we are mentally soft".
Certainly, neither team really gained much by the draw, and United must rue the early missed chances, but Marconi will have their heads in their hands over the loss of momentum toward the top 6.