February 23, 2026
2026 NSW NPL MENS 1 ROUND 3
WOLLONGONG WOLVES v MARCONI STALLIONS
WOLVES EDGED OUT BY MARCONI’S EARLY GOAL
In the hot and steamy conditions at Macedonia Park, with drinks breaks being a necessary addition, the Wollongong Wolves succumbed at home to an early goal after a stray pass was seized upon by Marconi. The goal was thus scored by Franco Maya Valiente, his initial goal in 2026 after achieving three in 2025. In addition, this was the third match in succession that the Wolves had conceded an early goal.
These two teams last met in the 2025 Australian Championship when the Wolves put Marconi to the sword with five goals. However, it was a different story in this 2026 Round 3 tussle as Marconi led from near the start and at the finish.
The Wolves began the match running towards the southern end and Marconi kicked off proceedings with Marko Jesic sending the ball back to central defender Teng Kuol, who launched it forward to the left. The Wolves’ Tate Russel headed out before Matelj Busek could take advantage of his team’s ball forward thrust. Marconi’s Jack Armson to the right of goal, produced an effort , after bursting into the box, that flashed past Wolves’ custodian, Daniel Solsky’s left post.
However, a next attack brought home the bacon. An errant Wolves pass from out of the back went to a Marconi player. He despatched the ball that took a deflection to Busek and subsequent his angled high ball from the left side to near post saw Valiente rising to project a strong header that scraped the cross bar, eluded Solsky, and then traversing over the line according to the officials. Marconi had hit the lead.
The opposition team was not going to rest on their laurels as another Marconi attack saw Jesic vying for the ball only for desperate Banri Kanaizumi lunge cutting out the pass. At the opposite end following the Wolves gaining some possession, a free kick by Flynn Madden, after Lachlan Scott was hit with a tackle deemed dangerous from Anton Mlinaric on the right was intercepted by Busek. Spying Solsky off his line, he went for a speculator that sailed past the Wolves’ goal post, sparing Solsky any blushes.
In the early stages the game was played a seemingly frenetic pace as Marconi was in an attacking frame of mind with the Wolves beginning to work themselves into the fray. However, the heat was beginning to play its part. In the fourteenth minute, Marcus Beattie shot over the bar. Valiente produced a sizzler from outside the penalty by about ten metres that Solsky, with his fingertips putting it over. A first drinks break emanated.
Subsequently, Marconi was the fore again with Busek producing another long shot that zoomed over this time.
A minute short of the half hour, Kuol and Scott tussled for the ball and in many instances Kuol kept a close eye on Scott. The battle continued as each player gave their all. The Wolves were mounting forays to get back on equal terms.
Mlinaric cleared one such attack and Madden had a great chance when the ball found him. However, his opportunity was lost and he skied the ball. Following a low cross from Sebastian Hernanez, Scott s shot was saved by custodian Joel Wade.
A good break with Alex Masciovecchio and Madden involved , did not come to fruition unfortunately. Russell displayed deft skill and class to elude Marconi defenders. Conversely, a Quentin Blair shot from outside the box failed in its intent and a George Daniel cross from left was met by Armson but traversed wide of the target.
A sweeping movement from the Wolves culminated in Sebastian Hernandez cutting the ball in from the left. Unfortunately, the outcome was not desired. Three minutes were added on and at the half time recess, Marconi held the advantage.
The second half saw the Wolves showing resilience as they looked to achieve something from this match. Marconi went on with defensive duties to preserve their lead and energy in the stifling conditions and broke out when the opportunity arose.
In the fifty-second minute, Dylan Ryan used his body to deny Armson and then Scott, second half substitute Felipe D’Agostino and Masciovecchio, combined to set a good attacking foray. However, it brought no further joy. Ryan intercepted to stave of Damian Tsekenis and Madden got the better of Luca Pecora to then place his cross in. Later Pecora robbed Beattie as he ran down the left.
A minute after the hour Marconi thought they had their second goal through Valiente getting the ball into the goal for a likely second goal producing effort. However, an assistant’s flag was raised for an offside. Their advantage stayed at one goal.
Another drinks break was held at the sixth-eighth minute mark. Later, Valiente crossed but none of his teammates could not take it in their stride and Kuol , who was doing a mountain of defensive work to good effect, showed his attacking flair when he produced a shot from distance that zoomed on a target, but it failed to bring up the desired outcome. Then Kuol fouled Scott wide on left. The Wolves went close to scoring but could not make it count.
A Ryan cross from right was taken by Wade at his far post and in five minutes added on at the end Scott had a good opportunity but did not manage to exert much power on the shot.
The Wolves somewhat had managed to shoot themselves in the foot conceding so early. In the trying conditions, catch up football was a difficult assignment. This was Marconi’s third win on the trot and the Wolves second defeat.
Coach Luke Wilkshire – ‘it is not good enough. That’s three games in a row that we have conceded early. Then they have something to hang onto. It is frustrating….The problems they come from us, our mistakes…. We dominate the games, but we have to turn that domination into goals and into victories.’
Wilkshire played with the Wolves in 2018 and coached the team from 2019 to 2022 and again in 2025 for the Australian Championship and now in 2026.
The Impressive Tate Russell – ‘Yes I did not know what I would do after the Australian Championships but here I am. We made it hard for ourselves.’
Russell signed for the Wolves in the 2025 Australian Championships and played five matches, scoring a goal against Marconi in Round 5.
Reserve Marconi Goalkeeper and former Wolf, Oliver Yates ‘Yes, I have settled in well at Marconi and I hope to get some game time in the future. We did well to get the win’.
Yates played fourteen matches for the Wolves in 2025 with his final appearance being in the Round 30 Blacktown City confrontation.
MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES F.C………………..0
MARCONI STALLIONS……………………….1
Franco Maya Valiente 4’
@ Macedonia Park, Berkeley
SUNDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2026
3.00 p.m. kick off
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach: Luke Wilkshire
1. Daniel Solsky, 18. Kazuya Yamamura, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8.Sebastian Duarte (44. Taj Menito 87’),10.Flynn Madden (Liam Ball 65’), 11. Sebastian Hernandez (7. Felipe D’Agostino 45’), 13. Tate Russell, 17. Marcus Beattie, 18.. Kazuya Yamamura (Jude 24.Lachlan Scott (Liam Ball 89)’, 25.Alex Masciovecchio (16. Lucas Trajcevski 65’),
Substitutes Not Used: 9. Ryan Lowe, 19. Max Cunial (RGK).
Yellow Cards: Sebastian Duarte 75’
Red Cards: Nil
MARCONI
Coach: Peter Tsekenis
1. Joel Wade, 4. Anton Mlinaric,( 3. Cameron Windust 77’), 5. George Daniel, 6. Teng Kuol, 7. Franco Maya Valiente (21. Noah Anderson 90’), 9. Damian Tsekenis, 10. Marko Jesic (Capt.), 11. Matej Busek (2. Tyren Burnie 83’), 14. Jack Armson 16. Luca Pecora 23. Quinten Blair
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Oliver Yates RGK
Yellow Cards: Teng Kuol 35’
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Nathan Shakepear
Assistant Referees : Lance Greenshields and Anastasia Filacouridis
Fourth Official: Charbel Geha
By Malcolm Rowney
