August 25, 2025
    2025 NSW NPL MENS 1 MATCH REPORT
          ROUND 29
                           WOLLONGONG WOLVES v MARCONI
                      WOLVES TAKE A POINT AGAINST THE STALLIONS
Against the second placed Marconi Stallions, the Wolles eked out a 1-1 draw in the final home game in 2025 in the NPL, with goals being achieved by Lachlan Scott (WW) and Tyren Burnie (MS). Despite a flurry of chances for both teams, Wolves custodian Daniel Solsky made a few crucial saves to keep the Wolves in the hunt. Both teams went close when a shot each was denied by the goal framework. However, it was not a flawless display by both teams, as passes went astray at times affecting the flow of proceedings.
The Wolves kicked off and ran towards the southern stand. The Wolves Nicholas Olsen got forward a picking up an errant Marconi pass, though he unfortunately showed a little too much of the ball and Marconi recovered.
As the half wore on, Marconi had more of territory encamped in the Wolves’ half for much of the time. In the seventh minute, Damien Tsekenis, attempted shot was dispatched and Harrison Buesnell headed out. An early Marconi corner kick saw Dominic Costanzo whipping the ball in,  Olsen intervened at the near post and later Solsky made a save from a targeted Marconi effort. Tsekenis provided a cross in, with Buesnell heading away to defuse the situation.
The Wolves received a free kick after Dylan Ryan was tripped in his foray upfield. Olsen’s set piece went straight to the Stallions’ goalkeeper, James Hilton. On fifteen minutes, Scott made a bullocking run only to be ultimately dispossessed by Tas Mourdoukoutas, who defended stoutly.
In the following minutes, the Marconi team exerted much pressure as Franco Maya Valiente’s strong shot, after Costanzo had forwarded a high ball to him, was kept out by Solsky’s sterling effort, spreading himself to deny, though conceding a corner kick. Tsekenis took this but it traversed to be a goal kick, to the relief of the Wolves. Later, Costanzo dispatched a cross which Solsky took and Buesnell shielded the ball out as Marko Jesic was in attendance. The Wolves were trying to extricate themselves from their own domain, but some slacking passing did not assist matters. After a sweeping move, Marko Jesic, was beaten to the ball by Solsky. Ryan cleared before the Wolves had an attack of their own which came to fruition.
Six minutes of the half hour the Wolves scored through Scott, who achieved with a dynamic left footed drive nestled inside the left post of the goal, past a diving goalkeeper, James Hilton.  This was somewhat against the run of play. Sebastian Hernandez. had received a pass back from Nicholas Olsen on the right before taking a step. He subsequently delivered a cross into the centre. Alex Masciovecchio met it to head high and as the ball came down, Olsen and Marconi’s Lachlan Griffiths vied for it. Griffiths got his head to it and the ball fell to Scott who was near the penalty arc, He did the rest to score his eight goals of the 2025 campaign.
Marconi looked for a quick reply. Costanzo made ground down the left and veered inward eluding Ben Giason and Marcus Beattie. He crossed with a ball eluding an attempted header by a teammate, before it fell to Burnie at the far post. His attempt was blocked by Banri Kanaizumi. The ball went high and Tsekenis tried to head it in from close vicinity as Ryan challenged but the ball then went for a goal kick. A couple of minutes later, Franco Maya Valiente placed his effort narrowly wide of the post, which was certainly a close shave for the Wolves. Tsekenis, who was a danger man, from the right side, whacked the ball against the cross bar after a free kick was lifted over the defence.
Scott intuitively swept the ball upfield for Masciovecchio on the left, who was in space. He veered inward and hit the ball from inside the goal area as a Marconi defender tackled. Hilton saved on thirty-nine minutes.
Marconi had more possession and kept up their attacking momentum. A James Bayliss effort was headed away by Buesnell  before the Stallions returned  favour.   Burnie, wide of the right sent a high curling ball into the centre. It cleared Solsky overhead to lodge into the goal, a crucially timed response, just prior to the half time whistle.  This was Burnie’s second goal of the season.
After the break, Marconi was not going to rest on their laurels. A Tsekenis free kick from wide on the right side went to the far post with Solsky racing across to grasp. Marconi had much of the attacking play at this stage, as Buesnell, Kanaizumi, Ryan and Masciovecchio all intervened to halt attacking forays.
In the fifty-fourth minute, Olsen hooked the ball into the middle, but Hilton took his effort before the Wolves had three corner kicks in succession that ultimately brought any joy.
Solsky, a minute before the hour, took a Valiente corner high and in the prior five minutes Valiente tried to chip him, but the custodian was equal to the task.
Masciovecchio ploughed the ball into the side netting which confused some spectators who thought it was a goal.
With two minutes to go in normal time, Scott, astute with his hold up play as per usual, managed to push the out to the right for Olsen. He launched in and from the outskirts of the penalty arc to let fly with a strong left footed drive. The ball cannoned in onto the right post. This could have been the winner.
In the five minutes of time added on, Ryan rose above his former teammate Jake Trew to head out. The Wolves midfielder, Flynn Madden put the ball narrowly wide after having a gilt-edged opportunity to score. Trew blazed over.
The second half remained scoreless despite the number of opportunities though the Wolves could have pinched the game later in proceedings. But with all things being considered, neither side deserved to be beaten. A point each was not going to do much for either team, as Marconi was pursing the Premiership and the Wolves were aiming for the finals.
Coach Julio Miranda – ‘we had our chances, but it was not our best performance, I must be honest about it.  I thought they were aggressive, they closed it down quickly and tried to get behind, though our second half was better, we coped better but we needed to be more competitive.  In the scheme of things, it would have been nice to finish off the game with the last opportunity that we had there.’
Banri Kanaizumi – ‘I think that they kept the ball well and put the ball in behind and that is their strength, but we hung in there and stayed together.  We conceded one goal, and we were unlucky. Exactly (about not getting second ball and passes not sticking) The result could have gone either way, but the draw does help. We look forward now to the Blacktown game and the Championship.’
Captain, Lachlan Scott – ‘they had their chances but definitely we had a few in the last ten, fifteen minutes and we could have put them away. We had one that hit the post and one a tad wide but that is just how it is sometimes. We had enough chances to win but you must take them… A draw that does not help anyone, but I think that it is us pretty much done now. We will go again next week and then have another go against them, two more times. It will be at a different ground, at Collies, it will be good, it will be exciting, the atmosphere should be good, so if we bring performances like that, we probably should get them.’
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MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES F.C………1
Lachlan Scott 29’
MARCONI. …………………………….1
Tyren Burnie 45
@ WIN Stadium, Wollongong,
SATURDAY 23rd  August 2025
7.00 p.m. kick-off.
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach: Julio Miranda
13.Daniel Solsky, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 11. Sebastian Hernandez (77. Raphael Le’ai  66’), 17. Marcus Beattie 21. Nicholas Olsen, 23. Flynn Madden24. Lachlan Scott (Capt.), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (James Anagnostopoulos 80’), 29. Ben Giason.
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Oliver Yates GK, 8. Sebastian Duarte, 10. Liam Ball, 15. Dax Kelly.
Yellow Cards: Alex Masciovecchio 51’, Lachlan Scott 69’,
Red Cards: Nil
MARCONI
Coach: Peter Tsekenis
- James Hilton, 2. Tyren Burnie, 5. Lachlan Griffiths (12. Julian Monge 76
‘) 6. Dom Costanzo (Kyle Cimenti 88’), James Bayliss (24. Batej Busek 88’), 10. Marko Jesic (99. Jordan Swibel 76’), 14. Jake Trew 69’), 13. Tass Mourdoukoutas, 18. George Daniel, 23. Brandon Vella, 17. Damian Tsekenis (14. Jake Trew 76’).
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Patrick Williams.
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Griffiths 5’, Marko Jesic 45+3’, Franco Maya Valiente 65’,
Red Card: Nil
Referee: Eric Saba
Assistant Referees: Brad Wright, Haydon Kaye.
Fourth Official: Harriet Gee
By Malcolm Rowney
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