NWS Spirit secured a vital round 14 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW win over Wollongong Wolves in gritty fashion at Christie Park on a rain soaked Saturday evening.
A match of few chances, it was both defensive units who shone in this game with the lone goal coming from Spirit star Jesse Michel after the hour.
Both sides were happy to feel their way into the contest in the early stages with Wollongong Wolves looking to apply a press at times while Spirit seemed intent to play the game in their attacking half.
The clock quickly ticking past the half hour with neither side really troubling the opposition keeper.
Only long range efforts from Jacob Chidiac and Jared Lum worthy of a mention, both of which went over the bar comfortably.
There were a few signs that the Wolves were waking up. Lachlan Scott going close with a left footed strike just over the top right corner which had Christopher Marques worried as the clock past the 35th minute mark.
Whereas the Spirit responded with a chance of their own shortly after, Jesse Michel finding himself on the end of a direct ball down the left, his shot comfortably saved by Vedran Janjetovic.
Indeed this was the best period of the game from the visitors, led by Scott who nearly turned provider finding Sebastian Hernandez with a cross from the right, Hernandez’s header going wide right after 38th minutes.
Yagoub Mustafa had the last chance of the half with a close range touch nearly finding it’s way past Marques as the Wolves continued to threaten.
The visitors were denied an opener once again in the 55th minute by Marques who produced a sharp save to deny Hernandez who tried to curl his effort towards the far post.
However it was the hosts NWS Spirit that took the lead. Jesse Michel beating the offside trap, with Wolves defenders claiming for off-side, before slotting the ball past the keeper in the 62nd minute. Mckinley played a pivotal role by playing the ball through to Michel for the assist.
The goal reinvigorated the hosts who upped the intensity heading into the final 20 minutes, while the visitors were looking dangerous from set-pieces.
Wolves were struggling for that little bit of creativity, something which Chris McStay was trying to amend with a couple of quick fire efforts in an around the 80th minute. First from long range in which he stung the palms of Marques before he headed wide from the far post soon after.
One last set of chances came for the Wolves in injury time with Takumi Ofuka who found space for a shot at the back post, his right footed strike comfortably saved before Scott headed wide shortly after.
The victory was an important one for the hosts as they moved clear of the bottom two as the season headed towards the halfway mark.
It was a tough loss for the Wolves who have struggled on the road this year, with David Carney’s troops hoping to bounce back next Friday against Many United.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit 1 (Michel 62’)
Wollongong Wolves 0
Saturday 11 May, 2024
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Referee: Nathan Shakespear
Assistant Referees: Ajad Naji & Allesandro Llana
Fourth Official: Declan Woods
NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques (GK), 3. Kyle Shaw, 4. Jarred Mckinley, 7. Richie Darko, 8. Grant Cornwell, 11. Ollie Wiggin (21. Luiz Lobo 75’), 13. Simon Nicholas, 16. Ante Bakmaz (36. Kyah Williams 82’), 17. Jacob Chidiac, 19. Jesse Michel, 20. Jared Lum
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Joel Wade, 14. Jacob Sullivan, 18. Zachary Cianci, 34. Noah Peacock
Yellow Cards: Bakmaz 59’, Cornwell 71’, WIlliams 87’, Lum 87’
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Wolves: 20. Vedran Janjetovic, 3. Darcy Madden, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak 7. Takumi Ofuka, 8. Andre Takami (27. Damon Gray 78’), 10. Yagoub Mustafa, 11. Sebastian Hernandez (25. Alex Masciovecchio 69’), 24. Lachlan Scott, 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 9. Jake Trew, 13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly, 29. Thomas Dunn.
Yellow Cards: Riak 23’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Kyle Shaw (NWS)
2- Grant Cornwell (NWS)
1- Lachlan Scott (WW)
By Justin Smith
