Spirit on fire as Nicholas pins hopes on silverware

After a sensational start to the 2025 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW campaign, NWS Spirit FC defender Simon Nicholas reflected on the opening three weeks, and looked ahead to their match against St George City and beyond.

NWS Spirit FC are the only team in the NPL Men’s NSW competition to win all of their first three matches, and have scored the most goals (10) in the league and conceded the joint-fewest (2) as they sit pretty at the top of the ladder.

Spirit opened the season with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sydney FC, before thrashing Blacktown City 4-0 in a stunning match of football at Landen Stadium.

Speaking on the strong beginning to the season, Nicholas said, “Recruitment this year was very good, we added a lot of quality and depth to the squad.

“We have also been very good at the basics, taking our chances and not giving away a lot of chances.”

Meanwhile, Spirit’s most recent victory came in a brilliant 3-0 over APIA Leichhardt, in which they dominated the reigning Waratah Cup Champions, finishing clinically and limiting a usually lively attack to minimal chances.

Nicholas was key to this feat, with his timing and aggression setting the tone for Spirit and putting on a brilliant display against APIA – his former club.

“Going to Lambert Park and winning is already a difficult task,” he said.

“But to win the way we did I felt was a big statement.

“Obviously the lads were buzzing with the result but the focus quickly shifted to St George.

“On a personal note it’s always a game I look forward to when you play an old club, and walking away with the 3 points is always good.”

Spirit’s defensive solidity in the last couple of matches has been built off the platform of proactivity, with coach David Perkovic giving their back five the license to step out of defence to win the ball aggressively, with compactness and intensity the key.

Nicholas has excelled in this proactive system, and is enjoying the process of playing in such a combative, assertive defensive line.

“It’s the best feeling as a defender when you know the players next to you will put everything on the line to win a game,” he said.

“Keeping a clean sheet for us is super important and we enjoy the wins more when we have kept the opposition out.”

Despite two significant results – and scorelines – against two of the biggest teams in the NPL Men’s NSW competition, Spirit’s focus hasn’t waned, with their minds fully set on this weekend’s fixture, where they will host St George City FA.

“We have full confidence heading into the St George game and look forward to being back at Christie,” said Nicholas

“We know they have plenty of quality and we will have to be at our best to walk away with 3 points.”

And while Spirit have followed the tried and trusted philosophy of taking their fixtures week-by-week, they have hefty goals for 2025, as outlined by Nicholas.

“We are just taking it week by week and it has been working so far.

“Saying that I can speak for the team and the club, we want to win silverware and go far in the Australia Cup again.”

Spirit will take on St George at 5:30pm this Saturday, with all NPL Men’s NSW matches available on live stream on the Football NSW channel.