The long suffering Northern Spirit fans celebrated wildly after Adrian Cervinski's 41st min strike gave them only the 2nd win at NSO since December 2000.
A section of the 'Parramatta sized crowd' started the match chanting "Hickman out!" after the disappointing displays at home all season. Mick Hickman, the Spirit coach, brought back Michael Cartwright from suspension, which proved of significant benefit in keeping experienced striker Zlatko Arambasic very quiet, and he started with Pablo Cardozo slotting in behind Adrian Cervinski.
Parramatta coach David Mitchell fielded named an unchanged squad for the match after the win last week at Somers Street, from where few teams return with many points.
In truth, the match was another poor display that is all too prevalent in the NSL with passes astray, odd tactics, and hesitant shooting. The first 15 mins were like watching the Franz Josef Glacier 'racing' to the sea!
Although Spirit pushed up for a few minutes, it was Power who used the ball to better effect with John Buonavoglia sending a great ball across to a menacing Nick Orlic but Spirit were able to clear the danger. A long ball through the Spirit midfield to Steve Eagleton free on the left a few minutes later should have led to better but Power got lost getting into the penalty area.
After that period Spirit got their act together a bit and John Hutchinson had a good spell on the left flank, keeping possession at one stage with four players around him, turning inside and got the ball to Cardozo whose snap shot was over the crossbar.
Nick Orlic again got forward and his header looped just wide, allowing Spirit to hit back with Cardozo sending a pass to Scott Thomas on the left who centred it to Adrian Cervinski who in turn, surprise, shot wide! At the 20min mark Arambasic got free and his shot straight at Paul Henderson in the Spirit goal was easily held. Midfielder Lubo Lapsansky was creating havoc for Power and he got forward but headed wide.
The game started to get decidedly niggly, and after a few shoves Spirit won a free kick in range but Cardozo's effort sailed just wide on the left upright. After Lapsansky again shot wide play swung to the other end and Cardozo tried to send the ball down Pogliacomi's throat. At the 41st minute mark, Cardozo pulled down a ball hit high on the left and turning inside he got it across to Cervinski. Cervinski looked about to hesitate, but calmly turned toward goal and hit it cleanly under an advancing Pogliacomi in the Power goal.
Spirit finished strongly on the back of that confidence boosting goal, and just before the break Cardozo hit a snap shot which almost grazed the cross bar.
Spirit started as they left off with the best chance of the half falling in only the 5th min to John Hutchinson.
The young ex Morwell player, in his 100th NSL game, was free in the middle and looking up from where he was being encircled Cardozo slipped the ball to him. Running straight at the goalkeeper, he froze like a rabbit in the headlights allowing Pogliacomi to come down at his feet and say 'easy'. Thomas was wide with his shot a short time later after good lead up work. Parramatta, perhaps realising Spirit were starting to make their simple errors at the back again, had in the 58th min O'Sullivan take off on a mazy run into the ear from the left but Henderson was quickly down to smother it. Eagleton had a shot blocked and David Mitchell upped the ante by making a double substitution, bringing on Ahmed Elrich and Adam Kwasnik (who promptly got himself carded for a shocking challenge). Kwasnik spelt danger every time he got near the goal and in the 76th min he hit the crossbar with Henderson wrong footed.
Eagleton then hit a free kick to the far post where Kwasnik was waiting to head on target.
At last, Spirit starting holding on to possession with six passes strung together at one stage.
5mins from time Julian Watts got forward and a cross-bounced agonisingly over his head, as he was almost unmarked in the box. Spirit's best were Cardozo, Cartwright, Henderson, Hutchinson, and Thomas. Parramatta was best served by Lapsansky, Orlic, O'Sullivan, Eagleton, Buonavoglia, and young Kwasnik after he came on did his reputation as a goal poacher no harm at all.