But Wollongong Community Football Club is the equal of any side in the NSW Premier League, according to Marconi coach Lee Sterrey.

Sterrey declared the cellar dwellers a match for any team in the state's top flight after third-placed Marconi's 2-0 win on Saturday night.

"All credit to Wollongong because it is as good a team as I've seen this year in the Premier League," Sterrey said.

The Marconi Stadium victory came via a 43rd minute strike by Ousmane Toure and an own goal in the 57th minute - both the product of defensive errors.

Toure's goal came after he dispossessed WCFC's Dave Able in a dangerous position before a clinical finish. The own goal followed a turnover by Alfredo Esteves that resulted in Alexander Canak's shot being deflected into the net by Ben Brondenberg.

At the other end, WCFC were denied by a strong showing from Marconi keeper Cem Akili and some wasteful finishing.

The loss - WCFC's 15th in 18 games - leaves them 12 points adrift at the bottom of the table, but signalled a marked improvement from their last tussle with the Stallions, a 7-0 hiding in April.

WCFC coach Glenn Fontana said the result came from his team trying to do too much with the ball.

"We make things complicated, getting dispossessed at the back is unforgivable," Fontana said.

"The game is about scoring goals, when you make two mistakes like we did and they are the only two chances they have and they bury them, it's soul destroying."

Fontana was also left to rue his side's finishing - the most glaring error came from striker James Monie, who tore a hamstring attempting to toe a ball in when a header would have done the job.

WCFC's gritty but ultimately fruitless effort came without skipper Steve Hayes, Samet Kaynak, Jamie Pitt and new signings Jamie McMaster and Shay Spitz.

Along with Monie's injury, James Lawrence, Brondenberg, Able and youngster Chris Nathaniel all sustained knocks that they will carry into tomorrow's Tiger Turf Cup quarter-final against Penrith-Nepean United.

Earlier, WCFC's under 20s lost 5-0 and the under 18s went down 2-0.