Soccer: Football Kingz end long search for success

KINGZ 3 STALLIONS 1

The Football Kingz rediscovered a winning touch when upsetting the third-placed Marconi Stallions with a deserved 3-1 National Soccer League (NSL) victory at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland today.

The Kingz scored their first win of the NSL season with a spirited performance and, apart from brief flurries early in both spells, Marconi seldom threatened.

Encouraged by picking up their first point this season, in Sydney a week ago, the Kingz began boldly apart from an early scare when Joe Spiteri ghosted in behind the Kingz defence and fired a shot which goalkeeper Michael Utting did well to push away from point-blank range.

It was a tough reintroduction for Utting, back from injury after missing all but the season-opener. For the rest of the first half he was, however, relatively unemployed.

"That save and the one he made in the second half are what make Michael Utting a world class 'keeper," Kingz coach Ken Dugdale said.

"But he wasn't the only one to stand up out there. It was a good performance across the park."

Dugdale said his players were more confident on the ball and they did not concede cheap goals.

"To score three goals from set play was encouraging. The delivery was good for the first two. The third was a cracker."

The Kingz had their first opportunity in the 12th minute when Aleksander Midtsian floated in a free kick which John Tambouras met neatly with a header.

It was headed goalwards until Marconi goalkeeper Michael Turnbull somehow got his legs in the way.

Not next time, though. From a Jeff Campbell corner in the 28th minute, Tambouras headed down and over the line to beat despairing attempts by Turnbull and Angelo Costanzo.

Marconi's best chance in the first spell came 12 minutes from the break when Jeromy Harris was left unmarked but he miskicked badly as Utting desperately chased back.

Marconi hit the ground running after the break and from the second of three quick corners they forced Utting into a fine reaction save.

Well-served at the back by Mauro Donoso, Tambouras and Espen Schjerven, and with timely assistance from Jason Rowley and Campbell, the Kingz looked a more compact outfit.

The midfield, led by captain Chris Jackson and Mark Burton, provided the link to an attack which relished the ball.

The second goal, in the 65th minute, came when a ball from Campbell found Tallen Martin who, under pressure from Simon Bell, gathered and flicked away from the advancing Turnbull and into the goal.

Marconi reacted angrily, claiming Martin had handled the ball but referee Derek Rugg ignored their pleas.

That 2-0 lead became 3-0 -- again following a controversy -- when Midtsian fired a rocket into the Marconi goal from a free kick awarded on the edge of the penalty area after Costanzo had clashed with Paul Harries.

Now coasting home, the Kingz gave up a late goal when Nick Carle beat Ross Nicholson, who, as a precaution, had replaced Utting, from the penalty spot following a hand-ball call.

"We won't be the last team to lose here this season," Marconi coach Jean-Paul De Marigny said.

"There was definitely no complacency on our part."