NWS Spirit FC secure first victory in 2024

NWS Spirit FC claimed their first victory of the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW season prevailing 2-1 over the Central Coast Mariners in round 7 action at Christie Park.
It took a while for the first chance to arrive as both sides started nervously in the opening quarter hour.
The hosts had the first opportunity of the contest in the 18th minute. A terrific double save from Mariners keeper Jack Warshawsky denied both Jesse Michel and Ollie Wiggin in quick succession.
The Mariners responded with their first real chance five minutes later, club top scorer Luka Smyth not getting enough on his header to trouble Christopher Marques in the Spirit goal after a ball was delivered in from the right.
Spirit were on top at this point however and took the lead for the first time this season in the 25th minute. A Jared Lum long throw from the left was headed on at the near post by club skipper Grant Cornwell for Ante Bakmaz to finish.
One nearly became two a minute later, Michel hitting the crossbar with a first-time effort, the cross coming in from the right on this occasion.
The Central Coast Mariners had their best chance of the afternoon just before the break. Bailey Brandtman threaded a through ball to Adam Hall, his effort cleared off the line in desperate fashion by Simon Nicholas.
The young Mariners were made to pay for that miss as Spirit scored a second shortly after the resumption. Bakmaz double his tally for the day after the visitors failed to clear.
The Mariners nearly responded seconds later with Matej Busek heading just wide from a good position inside the box, the ball coming in from the left.
That chance was followed up in the 55th minute with a double save from Marques denying the Mariners a goal back. Lucas Scicluna with the intimal effort from long range palmed onto the crossbar before there wasn’t enough purchase on the follow up from Cher Deng.
Spirit next up with a chance to make it three in the 67th minute, Richie Darko found Ollie Wiggin with a cross, whose resulting effort spraying wide left of the target.
It was the Mariners that looked the most dangerous at this point with Brandtman, Taye Hedley and Yani Nassis having a couple of efforts on the hosts goal in the final fifteen minutes of the match – most notable of which saw Marques make a fine save to deny Nassis in the 86th minute.
The visitors for their troubles finally hit the back of the net in the dying stages of the match as Alexander Gountounas pulled a goal back in spectacular fashion with a long-range screamer in injury time.
NWS Spirit coach David Perkovic was delighted with his side finally securing their first victory of the 2024 season after seven rounds.
“We can enjoy the win tonight.
“I think on the balance of play we earnt the win.
“I was good to score first for once and I’ve always been confident that we can go on with it once we have gotten an early goal.
“Our bench was stronger tonight and having the option of bringing on a Corey Kavanagh or Richie Darko really lifts the group.”
Central Coast Mariners coach Lucas Vilela was disappointed that his side had to chase the game.
“I thought it was a good game, unfortunately we were a little bit weak at set pieces this evening and had to chase the game.
“We know the boys are adjusting to what we are trying to implement. There were a lot of good things from tonight and can be confident results will match the performances in coming weeks.”
Match Stats
NWS Spirit 2 (Bakmaz 26’ 47’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Gountounas 92’)
Saturday 23rd March, 2024
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Jeh Coutinho
Assistant Referees: Blake Sanchez-Cruz & Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques (GK), 3. Kyle Shaw, 4. Jarred Mckinley (6. Corey Kavanagh 72’), 8. Grant Cornwell, 11. Ollie Wiggin (36. Kyah Williams 89’), 13. Simon Nicholas, 16. Ante Bakmaz, 17. Jake Chidiac, 18. Zachary Cianci (7. Richie Darko 63’), 19. Jesse Michel (9. Gianni Bouzoukis 72’), 20. Jared Lum
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Joel Wade, 55. Jacob Sullivan
Yellow Cards: Nicholas 15’, Chidiac 54’, Bakmaz 68’
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Jack Warshawsky (GK), 2. Michael Paragalli, 3. Cher Deng (13. Yani Nassis 68’), 4. Andre Parkes, 5. Harry Menham, 8. Lucas Scicluna (C), 10. Luka Smyth (42. Alexander Gountounas 68’), 11. Donatien Niyonkuru (12. Taye Hedley 78’), 16. Prayaag Thapa (6. Jordan Small 90’), 37. Bailey Brandtman, 39. Adam Hall (7. Matej Busek 45’)
Substitutes Not Used: 22. Rocco Smith,40. Dylan Peraic-Cullen
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Ante Bakmaz (NWS)
2- Grant Cornwell (NWS)
1- Christopher Marques (NWS)
By Justin Smith