A 19th minute brain explosion by captain/coach Stuart McLaren was the only undisciplined thing about a display from Brisbane that was only broken by some 2nd half changes rung by the Marconi coach.
The Strikers looked very focussed before the game and showed early that they had come meaning business with Shane Stefanutto getting up on the left but his cross was high and striker Warren Moon could only head wide under pressure. Two minutes later Marconi's 'keeper Michael Turnbull spilled an easy ball in the box and Angelo Costanzo had to boot clear. Marconi's best chance of the half came in the 6th minute when Chad Gibson sent a diagonal ball 15m to a lurking Nick Carle at the edge of the area but the Strikers defenders swarmed to clear.
By the 10th minute Marconi's ideas in attack looked limited, with the absence of Spiteri and Brosque, but Brisbane were looking very determined and attacking in numbers using various approaches. In the 19th minute however Brisbane's coach had his brain explosion, jumping two footed at Shane Webb and earning a straight red. As he left the field he issued directions to restructure the team to counter the one man advantage he had just handed his opponents.
In the 24th minute Nick Carle received a ball on the right over the defence from Grant Last, again a Marconi cross was too high. Brisbane however were moving the ball up in numbers, but hesitating to put a shot in. Marconi were denied a calimed penalty when referee Simon Micaleff 'played on' after Brisbane's impressive 'keeper Scott Higgins clipped Gibson's leg with his hand as the midfielder scrambled after a ball in the box.
The Strikers were playing a very intelligent game for a team with 10 men, narrowing Maconi's options, and as the half wound down were well in control, marshalled by Peter Grierson, supported by Karl Dodd and Josh McCloughan. Nick Carle was always threatening to break their hold however.
Just before the break sole striker Royce Brownlie murdered a chance for his side when, with three on two he failed to pass to either of his unmarked team mates, but shot weakly at Turnbull.
Marconi came out after the break with more purpose but many of the same flaws in their approach. In the 57th minute Brownlie contested the ball in the box with Turnbull but Marconi were able to clear, and six minutes after Warren Moon launched a ssorching long range shot which cannonned off a defender.
Marconi coach De Marigny had brought on two subs but in the 61st he reshaped his side when bringing on Simon Bell for his first game this season. The unconventional approach of Bell seemed to unsettle the previously unflappable Brisbane defence. Against the balance of play Marconi got the goal they wanted, when Nick Carle decided to take a shot from 20m after receiving the ball from Angelo Costanzo.
Bouyed by this goal Marconi pressed and in the 71st Eric Anabalon shot only to see Higgins parry, then Shane Webb's shot from the rebound was blocked. In the 80th minute Brisbane had their chances with Brownlie, Stefanutto, and Pilic failing to beat Turnbull. The Strikers were noticeably tiring but still looking for the equaliser but this left thenm exposed. The last chance was created by Nick Carle who opened up the defence and Anabalon shot only to see Higgins block the shot, again.
Brisbane should take heart from the game, if not points, as they showed great application and kept their shape under pressure, and have a determination that will stand them in good stead as the season evolves. Marconi on their part will be well pleased with the 3 points that take them, for now, to third place. The return of Spiteri, Maloney, and Brosque will be much awaited however. At least they didn't even get a yellow card in this game!
After the match, McLaren accepted full responsibility for the loss. ³I shoulder 100% of the blame for the loss,² he said after the game. ³The boys shouldn¹t be disappointed with this effort. They showed discipline and determination right through the game. We changed shape after the send off and the remaining players worked their back-sides off, so much so we could have been 1-0 up a minute before the break.
Marconi coach Jean-Paul De Marigny was happy to secure the three points and believed they should have won it more comfortably. ³We created enough chances to score a few more (goals) in the second half but credit to Brisbane, and another clean sheet keeps us happy.² ³We¹ve got goals we've set, week by week, and month by month to achieve and we¹ll only get better as the season goes on.²