Petratos hat-trick fires NWS Spirit FC to dominant win over Manly
NWS Spirit FC produced a dominant display at Cromer Park on Saturday night, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Manly United FC to end the hosts’ nine-match unbeaten run.
Kosta Petratos was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick as NWS Spirit moved to within one point of the top six on the NPL Men’s NSW ladder.
NWS Spirit made a fast start and were dominating the opening stages with Kosta Petratos looking dangerous and delivering a number of corners that were dealt with by the Manly defence.
Petratos was becoming an influential figure as the first-half continued and he opened the scoring for NWS Spirit in the 13th minute when he unleashed a ferocious left-foot shot from well outside the box. The ball flew into the top right corner, leaving Manly goalkeeper Mackenzie Syron with no chance as Petratos scored his seventh goal of the season.
Manly midfielder Darcy Burgess went close to scoring an equalising goal in the 18th minute when his dipping, curling free-kick from a long way out was well saved by goalkeeper Jay Coates who got a strong hand to the ball as he pushed it over the crossbar.
The NWS Spirit midfield started to get a hold of the game as the first-half continued and were having some good moments with the ball.
Spirit continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with a second goal in the 29th minute when Riku Kobayashi finished neatly on his left-foot from close range. NWS Spirit did well to win the ball from the Manly defence out wide on the left with Petratos driving a low and flat ball across goal that was turned home by Kobayashi on the edge of the six yard box. The goal was the seventh of the season for the Japanese star.
Manly started to enjoy some good possession as the first-half continued, however they were failing to create any clear-cut opportunities.
NWS Spirit hit Manly on the counter on the stroke of half-time as Petratos scored his second goal of the match. Kobayashi found himself with time and space on the right and he delivered a perfect first-time cross that found Petratos on the edge of the six-yard box as he beat two defenders and slotted the ball past Syron.
The first-half came to end with NWS Spirit playing some scintillating football and finishing with five shots with three on target; while Manly had two shots with one on target.
NWS Spirit made a fast start to the second-half with Noah Peacock flashing a shot just wide of the right hand post.
Peacock was causing headaches for the Manly defence and he went close to scoring in the 59th minute when his header from an Aiden Mostofi cross went just wide of the Manly goal.
NWS Spirit were in cruise control and they added a fourth goal only a few minutes later when Petratos claimed his hat-trick after lashing home a bouncing ball in the six-yard box following a goal mouth scramble after a Spirit corner.
Spirit continued to apply pressure as the second-half continued and were a constant threat as they created numerous chances.
In the end, NWS Spirit claimed a dominant 4-0 victory that keeps the finals dream alive as they continue to rise up the NPL Men’s NSW ladder to sit one point outside the top six; while the nine-game unbeaten run comes to an end for Manly who lose their first game since Round 18.
Match Stats
Manly United FC: 0
NWS Spirit FC: 4 (Kosta Petratos 13’, 45’, 61’, Riku Kobayashi 29’)
Saturday August 15, 2026
Cromer Park
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Daniel Cornofsky and Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: Brayden McDonald
Manly United FC: 4. Jesse Piriz (C), 5. Aaron O’Driscoll, 6. Saxon Hillyer, 7. Stephan De Robillard (16. Will Faulder 79’), 8. Kakeru Ono (3. Matthew O’Donoghue 63’ ), 9. Benjamin Koop, 10. Darcy Burgess (11. Ayumu Kimura 63’), 15. Max Martinello, 19. Cai Evans (24. Toby Bakewell 63’), 29. Douglas John, 99. Mackenzie Syron
Substitutes not used: 2. Luka Krizan, 21. Harry Turner
Yellow Cards: Ashton Hulme 54’
Red Cards: Nil
NWS Spirit FC: 2. Aiden Mostofi, 4. Bradie Smith (3. Kyah Williams 70’), 6. Corey Kavanagh (15. Sam Armson 55’), 8. Grant Cornwell (C), 9. Callum Kealy (19. Zayne Ahluwalia 70’), 10. Kosta Petratos (32. Thomas Mason 79’), 12. Jay Coates, 13. Simon Nicholas, 17. Riku Kobayashi (26. Dominic Tedesco 70’), 18. Andre Takami, 21. Noah Peacock
Substitutes not used: 1. Christopher Marques, 5. Owen Henderson
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Report by Joel Martelli
