The premiership trophy was presented to Perth Glory before proceedings got under way tonight at the MES. However it was Marconi who looked like the champions for long periods of this match.
In fact after 76 minutes they led 2-0 and looked very likely to be the first side to take anything from the home side in Perth this season. They did take a point but would have been very disappointed not to have gone away with all 3.
But this Glory side is made of stern stuff and the fact that some early 2nd half substitutions were made which allowed the incoming players time to accustom themselves to the tempo of the game may well have been the crucial factor.
It was unusual for coach d'Avray to make such early changes but the way that Marconi were dominating made the decision that much easier. The introduction of Caceras and Mrdja for Faria and Despotovski was the signal for a better Glory performance, and although they fell further behind on 76 minutes they had the character and skill to pull themselves out of the fire and salvage a point.
It was clear from the start that this Marconi side were the best side seen at MES this season, as they started with purpose and carried that on until the final 10 minutes when fatigue and the fighting quality of Glory finally overran them. The visitors had only arrived in Perth on match day and this may have had something to do with their fade out.
The game started with Marconi showing a willingness to attack and to be creative that no other side has shown this season in Perth. They nearly got reward in the 12th minute when a great through ball by Carle set up Spiteri for a one on one with Petkovic, but on this first occasion the Glory keeper was the victor as he saved well.
Just 5 minutes later it was Brosque who got on the end of some great Marconi combination play to fire a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the goals.
In the 18th minute Glory had their first real chance as Despotovski managed a cross into the penalty area, the ball was headed clear by Longo but dropped invitingly for Pondeljak who powered a great volley that was brilliantly tipped around the post by the flying Alogdellis.
In the 21st minute a glory throw in deep in Marconi territory was intercepted by Thwaite and following a swift transfer of play it was Spiteri who was put through once more one and one with Petkovic and this time the striker fired well low and hard to the left of the keeper who despite getting a hand on the ball could not prevent it entering the net for the lead to the visitors.
From that moment to half time Marconi grew in confidence and played the ball around without ever actually threatening to increase their lead.
The 2nd half started similar to the first with Glory looking very short of ideas on how to break down a resilient Marconi defence. This was emphasized by the Glory striker Despotovski taking a throw in deep in his own half and playing it back to his keeper. A chance was created in the 55th minute when following a short free kick the ball was pumped into the Marconi area, where it bobbled around before Hassell got a foot to it but to his dismay the ball rebounded off the woodwork and was eventually cleared.
Following the substitutions Glory did start to play better and in the 65th minute Hassell played a great square ball to Pondeljak who hit a screamer from 20 metres that just went over the angle of post and crossbar.
Only a minute later it was the influential Pondeljak who threaded a great ball to the Bye line for North to chase, he crossed deep to the far post and Byrnes got up to head powerfully past the keeper but somehow the ball was cleared off the line..
With Glory pressing for the equaliser they were leaving gaps at the back and in the 71st minute a quick break out by Marconi sent Spiteri free down the left , he turned inside North before hitting a curling shot that was brilliantly tipped behind for a corner by Petkovic.
Glory obviously did not learn from that close call as just 5 minutes later Spiteri again was again the target for a clearance. He had to battle with Murphy for possession on the half way line and despite a high looking boot he got the ball under control before racing towards the penalty area with Murphy in hot pursuit. Just as Murphy caught up Spiteri pulled the pin and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing Petkovic to seemingly give Marconi a winning 2-0 advantage. At least that is what Marconi coach deMarigny thought as he gave the home crowd some stick after the goal was scored.
The coaches gesture seemed to fire the local crowd on the Grandstand side of the ground and this appeared to transfer to the players on the pitch as suddenly Glory played with more purpose and control. Pondeljak and Bingley started to take control in the middle and continuously feed Caceras, Coyne and North down the wings.
With just 10 minutes to go Caceras received the ball wide on the left before cutting past 3 Marconi defender only to see his shot rattle the side netting.
In the 83rd minute Pondeljak played a ball wide to Coyne, who crossed low and hard into the area. The big Glory striker Mrdja superbly dummied the ball and his partner in crime Mori turned sharply before firing the ball past Alogdellis and into the bottom left corner of the net to reduce the arrears.
It only took another 3 minutes before the arrears were completely wiped with this time Petkovic fed Bingley on the left, he passed the ball to North who crossed deep into the Marconi box, somehow Mori managed to beat the Marconi keeper to the ball with his head as he knocked the ball back for Mrdja who controlled well and fired hard into the bottom right hand corner of the net for the equaliser.
So the Glory comeback was complete and for the first time this season at the MES we had an exciting finish and a team taking a point from the home side and therefore denying them the record of being the only team in the history of the NSL to win every home game.
However how the game would have panned out if referee Eddie Lennie did not miss 2 blatant fouls on Glory defender Harnwell in the first half as he attacked at corners we will never know.
Tonight's performance would have been a good wake up call for Glory as their central defence got caught out on numerous occasions.It will also give a headache for coach d'Avray who will have to decide to persevere with an out of form Despotovski or play the man who has score 4 goals in just under a game and a half in Mrdja.
As for Marconi, they could well be the team to cause the upsets in this finals campaign, especially when they get Maloney back in the side.