New Boys NWS Spirit FC and St George City settle for high-scoring draw

The National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s two newly promoted clubs went toe to toe as NWS Spirit FC and St George City shared the points in a close-fought 2-2 contest at a warm Christie Park on Saturday evening.
With four goals in the opening fourty-five, St George City will be the team walking away feeling hard done by after going close several times in the second half, failing to capitalise on their chances.
The visitors started with plenty of intensity away from home and were rewarded straight away with a goal from their first chance. A short corner option finding Pedro Ferrari Da Silva who sent a dangerous ball which was headed into the back of the net by captain Tarik Ercan.
Continuing to press their hosts early, City weren’t letting David Perkovic’s men work the ball in their usual manner in the opening quarter hour.
However it was NWS Spirit FC who hit the back of the net next with their first opportunity. Luiz Lobo opening his account with a wonderful shot after isolating his man on the right. His right footed strike sneaking in at the near post on 18 minutes which City keeper Jordan Nikolovski really should have done better.
The momentum had changed and now it was Spirit on the front foot.
Playing some of their easy on the eye football Lobo turned provider with an in-swinging corner from the left headed home by captain Jared Lumb at the near post on 37 minutes.
Momentum changes and goals against the run of play were the story of the opening stanza with St George City striking a final blow with seconds remaining in the half. Maki Petratos matching Lobo’s effort with one of his own outside the area, the ball flying into the top left corner and it was yet again game on.
After a chaotic first half, the start of the second seemed to slow down chance wise.
With a Maki Petratos chance in the first minute of the second half the only real chance for the visiting side.
Spirit then went close just before the drinks break in the 66th minute, Matthew Cahill sending a ball across the face to be cleared away.
With tensions raising as the minutes went on, chances were becoming a premium, the next couple falling to St George City substitute Nathan Roberts. His first blocked by desperate defence inside the area before following up with a long range shot which went perilously close of the right post from range.
In fact that substitution nearly paid off late with a flurry of chances coming at the death.
Dominic Cox hit the crossbar from a Roberts cross first up, Aiden Mostofi then tried his luck and Roberts had one final chance in the final minutes forcing a two handed save from Christopher Marques with essentially the last kick of the game.
Speaking after the game, St George City coach Mirko Jurilj rued his side dropping points.
“We should have won that game, two weeks in a row we’ve played well enough to win, just having moments where we lose balls in key areas.
“One nil up, we let them back into the game with their goal. We have good footballers here, just got to execute better on the field. We can’t win a game without better ball retention.
“We’ll look to play better next weekend against a hungry Wanderers side but we’ll need to be better.”
NWS Spirit coach David Perkovic was similarly disappointed but for different reasons.
“Credit to St George City, they put us under pressure and we didn’t respond well to it. We were lucky to get a draw today.
“Every game in this league is going to be difficult. We need to look at ourselves and our performance and improve ahead of next weekend.“
NWS Spirit face Blacktown City in round three action while St George City return home to take on Western Sydney Wanderers.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit FC 2 (Lobo 18’, Lum 37’)
St George City 2 (Ercan 2’, M. Petratos 45’)
Saturday 11 February, 2023
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Amir Hosnani & Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: Ayad Naji
NWS Spirit FC: 1. Christopher Marques (GK), 3. Musashi Kokubo, 4. Kota Odakura, 5. Jordan Gomez (10. Louis Bozanic 45’), 6. Corey Kavanagh, 11. Ollie Wiggin, 13. Simon Nicholas, 17. Matthew Cahill (14. George Kriezes 81’), 20. Jared Lum, 21. Luiz Lobo (9. Mitchell Davidson 67’), 23. Michael Konestabo (22. Abuzar Awaz 76’)
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Jacob Madden (GK), 2. Blake Ilitch.
Yellow Cards: Bozanic 54’
Red Cards:
St George City: 21. Jordan Nikolovski, 2. Pedro Da Silva, 3. Daniel Alessi, 6. Tarik Ercan, 8. Dominic Cox, 9. Marley Peterson (20. Aiden Mostofi 55’), 11. Kosta Petratos (10. Paolo Mitry 86’), 14. Dean Pelekanos, 23. Franco Maya (30. Presley Oritz 54’), 24. Alex Kyriacou, 70. Maki Petratos (7. Nathan Roberts 75’).
Substitutes Not Used: 12. Jack Kenny (GK), 99. Matthew Keremelevski.
Yellow Cards: Pelekanos
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3- Luiz Lobo (NWS)
2- Dominic Cox (STGC)
1- Daniel Alessi (STGC)
By NPLNSW Men’s reporter Justin Smith (@smiththejustin).