Meridian took thirteen minutes to settle and one more to lead. Tomás Bekele found the run before the Stanground back line had turned, and Marchetti finished across the keeper from eight yards — his sixth of the season and the start of an afternoon he will not forget.
Stanground held the line until the interval and had the better of a scrappy opening to the second half. Curtis Vane forced Marco Iversen into the only save he had to make, and for twenty minutes the visitors looked like the side more likely to score next.
The penalty that settled it
It turned on 58 minutes. Sekou Ndiaye was caught by Dean Pryce as he cut inside, and Marchetti struck the penalty low and central. From that point Meridian controlled everything, moving the ball between the lines and forcing Stanground into the fouls that cost them a booking each side of the hour.
“He is scoring the goals a nine should score — near post, six yards, first contact. That is coaching and it is instinct at the same time.”
Rafael Duarte, head coach
The third came from the right again. Ndiaye beat two defenders and stood the cross up at the near post, where Marchetti got in front of Mo Sissoko and headed down. Aaron Rowntree replaced him to an ovation eight minutes later.
What it means
A third clean sheet in five leaves Iversen with the best defensive record in the division, and Meridian a point behind Northvale with a home fixture against Ashford City to come.
- Marchetti has eight goals in eight appearances in all competitions.
- Meridian have scored from a corner in each of their last two at home.
- Stanground have now lost both of their away matches.
Ashford City visit Kingsway Park on Saturday 8 August, with tickets on general sale from Monday morning.
