Yuzo Tashiro’s vital 11^th minute header helped the Wolves take home their first three points in more than a month.

Marconi’s Theo Kofinas was red carded late in the match, but the Wolves weren’t able to add to the score sheet despite a litany of chances.

Wolves coach Jacob Timpano was happy with the result, but knows his team still have work to do to reach their peak. 

“It was a fantastic win, but it again showed the story of our season in front of goal,” he said.

“The amount of chances we are missing is unacceptable but we got away with it and thoroughly deserved the win. That puts us back in equal fifth now so we are there or thereabouts. 

“We know we should be higher up the table. I think we have played quite well and did that again today so it gives us something to build on for the second half of the season.”

Timpano made several changes for the clash, with James Baldacchino, Brendan Griffin and Josh MacDonald both dropped to the bench while Nick Montgomery (ribs) was sidelined.

Steve Hayes, Darcy Madden, Ryan Ensor and Peter Simonoski all came into the starting eleven. With the changes, Timpano altered his formation to play three at the back. It proved effective. 

“We went to three at the back and gave them specific instructions that there job is to defend and contend with the Marconi front two,” Timpano said.

“I thought the back three of Chris Price, Michael Robinson and Darcy Madden, were magic today. They were outstanding and really gave us the base to win the game.

“That change of structure obviously worked. I think we outplayed them, but we should have made it easier on ourselves with the amount of chances we had.”

Wollongong had picked up just one point in their past five matches, but didn’t have to wait long to put themselves in the box seat.

Tashiro’s goal came after Takuya Nozawa’s cross with flicked on by Simonoski. The Japanese striker headed home a poacher’s goal at the back post. 

The Stallions best spell of the match came in the five minutes before half time when Marko Jesic’s header tested Justin Pasfield and Sean Rooney rocketed a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

The balance of play returned to the Wolves in the second half, where they could have easily finished the visitors off. Tashiro spurned a pair of gilt-edged chances in the final 10 minutes.

He forced Stallions keeper Nenad Vekic to make a sensational save from close range in the 80^th minute before blazing a one-on-one opportunity wide of the mark in stoppage time.

Kofinas had been dismissed for a second yellow in the 89^th minute after making dangerous contact with Tashiro’s head. It mattered little in the end as the Wolves finally returned to form.