NWS Spirit FC undone by clinical St George FC
St George FC claimed their first National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW away victory of the season prevailing 3-1 over NWS Spirit at Christie Park on Saturday evening.
Taking the lead early, the Saints had a Peter Grozos second half brace to thank for the victory after Spirit found an equaliser earlier in the second.
After a cagey start with both sides were happy to let each other have possession in their own half. Some quick feet from Luiz Lobo created the first chance of the game nine minutes in.
Lobo taking it along the byline past his defender before cutting it back to Jesse Michel who couldn’t steer his shot past Andrew Di Blasio in the St George goal.
Their opponents St George were having joy particularly down their left wing, Justin Poon and the ever ready Troy Danaskos, fresh from gaining his #NPLMNSW Player of the Month honours, combined well though their shots were restricted to outside the area.
NWS Spirit had their first set piece chance on the quarter hour. Kyle Shaw testing Do Blasio with his head from around the penalty spot.
The first key chance for the visitors came from the penalty spot before the half hour. Spirit defender Ante Bakmaz brought down Nikola Skataric who stepped up to convert his penalty into the bottom right corner in the 27th minute.
Skataric went close again in the 32nd minute with a left footed strike went narrowly wide of the right post.
Both sides then battled it out with the scoreline remaining 1-0 at the break.
A lead the visitors almost doubled inside ten minutes of the resumption. A short corner routine saw Nicholas Kalogerou find Danaskos free at the far post. His header drew a good save from Christopher Marques at the near post.
It was the hosts who found the next goal however. Ollie Wiggin headed home from a beautiful Simon Nicholas cross overlapping on the left wing just after the hour.
Spirit went close again in the 71st minute, Zachary Cianci flashing a shot across the face of goal, missing the right post before Mark Rodic blocked a Michel shot towards an open goal five minutes later.
St George FC took the lead once again through Peter Grozos with just under ten minutes remaining. A diagonal run from Skataric caught the defence napping before cutting it back to Grozos to finish into the far corner.
The visitors added an exclamation mark with five minutes remaining. Grozos pounced on an errant Marques pass before finishing into the open net from 45 yards.
Post game, St George FC coach Jane Talcevski was pleased with some individual performances from his side.
“In this particular game and the way it played out it was going to be the individuals to make the difference and the likes of Nicholas Kalogerou, Peter Grozos and Nikola Skataric did step up tonight.
“Not much football was played in difficult conditions but to come here and take away the three points was definitely a positive.”
NWS Spirit coach David Perkovic credited his opposition but was disappointed how the game played out as the side slumped to its fifth loss of the 2024 campaign leaving them in fifteenth position on the ladder.
“Credit to St George FC tonight, they deserved the victory – But just how the game went, it shouldn’t have gone that way.
“Goals change games and we were a bit naïve once we got on level terms.”
Match Stats
NWS Spirit 1 (Wiggin 62’)
St George FC 3 (Skataric 27’, Grozos 80’ 85’)
Saturday 23rd March, 2024
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Eric Saba
Assistant Referees: Joel Crawford & Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Daniel Cornofsky
NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques (GK), 3. Kyle Shaw, 7. Richie Darko (18. Zachary Cianci 64’), 8. Grant Cornwell, 11. Ollie Wiggin, 13. Simon Nicholas, 14. Jacob Sullivan (4. Jarred Mckinley 85’), 16. Ante Bakmaz (15. Brayden Burr 86’’), 19. Jesse Michel (9. Gianni Bouzoukis 77’), 20. Jared Lum, 21. Luiz Lobo
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Joel Wade, 36. Kyah Williams
Yellow Cards: Bakmaz 26’, Sullivan 74’
Red Cards: Nil
St George FC: 1. Andrew Di Blasio (20. Daniel Axford 45’), 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 8. Conor Quilligan (7. Jesse Spang 86’), 9. Peter Grozos, 10. Harry Jones (23. Evangelo Souris 72’), 18. Mark Rodic (2. Caio De Godoy 86’), 19. Nikola Skataric, 27. Jayden Seeto (11. Anthony Morabito 72’), 30. Justin Poon
Substitutes Not Used: 15. Mitchell Heapy
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Peter Grozos (STG)
2- Nicholas Kalogerou (STG)
1- Nikola Skataric (STG)
By Justin Smith
