Now, I've seen Marconi play a lot better.
But, last night will remain as one of the most pleasing Marconi games I have attended, because the Marconi players oozed passion, and fought (metaphorically and literally) to the very last minute to get a result.
I don't usually hob nob with the players after the game (I'm usually too drunk to climb the stairs) but I made a point of shaking some of their hands last night, and the coaching staff too..who must take a lot of the credit for instilling the pride in the side.
If you came to watch this game to marvel at the silky footballing content on display, you would have went home very, very disappointed indeed, but it had everything else, including last gasp equalisers, X rated tackles, all in brawls, questionable decisions etc.(no to mention Mrs Forza's prowess with the pokies!)
Newcastle dominated the early proceedings, with Marconi taking over before and after the break.
However a long ball was 'toe poked' over the advancing Mickey Turnbull by Middleby in the second half, and it fell, much to our disgust, just inside the post to put Newcastle 1-0 in front.
Had this been last season, then that would have been it, we could all of just gone off to the club early, in the knowledge that we would just drop our heads, and crumble.
But not this season.
Claw, scratch, bite, kick, do what ever you have to, to stay alive when you are on the floor of a Glasgow pub with a big Weedgie hard man kicking your head in , and Marconi did the football equivalent of it.
In time added on, Angelo Costanzo of all people launched himself as a corner was flicked into the six yard box, made contact with his right foot and a deserved, justified equaliser was despatched into the middle of the net.
(This was only Angelo's second NSL goal, his first being scored in a 1-0 win over Canberra Cosmos, but it was equally welcome.)
Every punter I spoke to after the game, was not disappointed that we had not won, but spoke of the difference in attitude between this year's side and last years.
It may not have been pretty, and no doubt we still have a lot of improvement in us, but last night Marconi, the real Marconi, showed that they are back.