Parramatta Power failed to 'kill-off' Northern Spirit after leading 2-0 at half-time, which was needed for their grand final hopes, and despite dominating much of the game, allowed Spirit to graft back two late goals for a 2-2 draw.
Parramatta Power came into this local derby needing a win to keep their chance of a grand final spot alive, and with a few goals to spare if possible, whilst Sprit was playing to keep the faith with their core fans and for next years contracts.
Northern Spirit took the initiative as the first half unfolded. In the first minute Stewart Petrie sent a ball over the top to Vuko Tomasevic up on the left but his quickly executed cross was cut out.
With Spirit dominating Power started to counter attack and in the fifth minute Ahmad Elrich got up quickly on the left, and shot hard toward the left upright but Spirit 'keeper Paul Henderson was down to hold at the post
In the sixth minute Elrich again beat his man, and slipped the ball to Damien Brown wide on the left. The reliable Brown curled a fine ball forward and across the goal to a waiting Pablo Cardozo, who was not picked up, and it was a formality when the ex Spirit striker headed past Henderson and into the net. 1-0.
One minute later the pressure was on Spirit again when Elrich shot but Henderson was down quickly to hold, and Kosta Salapasidis should have done better in the 11th minute when he made a solo run into the goal area but shot over.
At the other end Spirit were finding there lack of striking power a problem and it took a questionable (given the position of the ball and line) penalty granted to them, for a bundling challenge by Paul O'Grady on midfielder John Hutchinson, to provide a first clear chance. Master striker of the dead ball, Vuko Tomasevic, strode up but he hit it straight to rookie Power 'keeper Danny Vukovic who was able to parry, and the ball was cleared by the Power defence.
Both sides traded attacking moves that lacked the cutting edge but it was an open game, with both sides only dropping intensity after 30 minutes.
In the 40th minute Power had a good chance when captain and central defender Alvin Ceccoli strode forward, shrugging off four defenders, and slipped the ball to Cardozo. The striker went for the quick movement and hit it straight to Henderson.
Power was dominating and it was not a surprise when Spirit's defence were unable to clear the ball at several attempts and only succeeded in putting it out to a lurking Wayne O'Sullivan. The midfielder slung over a carefully weighted curling cross which found tall defender Paul O'Grady running through free and he headed to the left of Henderson for a second goal. 2-0.
As the second half started, Spirit weren't about to lie down. Spirit substitute, and youth leaguer, Omar Obeid curled an early cross from the left just over former Power midfielder Bradley Groves in the 46th minute, and six minutes later Groves beat Ceccoli in the area but the ball was forced for a corner, and then another but to no avail.
Along with some desperate rear-guard work, Spirit was proving tenacious in getting forward. 55th minute, Obeid again, got the ball up to Petrie, but he shot over the bar. Five minutes later captain and substitute Andy McDermott hit a corner, which sailed across the face of goal, just missing the far post.
One-minute later Henderson covered a header and sent the ball up field, but Kwasnik shot straight at Vukovic.
In the 70th minute Power may have had a claim, but they kept their counsel, when a through ball in the area hit Noel Spencer's arm and into his control. A minute later Groves hit the ball over the crossbar, and then Cardozo was unable to get a shot on target.
The game was now very stop-start and lacking intensity, especially among Power's strikers. In the 8th minute substitute Brad Maloney almost hit the corner post with a wild shot.
In the 81st minute Bradley Groves received the ball free, moved forward and struck it nicely past Vukovic. 2-1.
In extra time McDermott shot into the net after Power failed to clear after an early cross by Petrie from the left. 2-2. Power in trouble.
Parramatta was best served by Wayne O'Sullivan, Alvin Ceccoli, Danny Vukovic, Michael Beauchamp, and John Buonavoglia. Spirit can thank Noel Spencer, evergreens Alex Tobin and Ian Ferguson, plus their Osman, and in the 2nd half substitutes Obeid (who combined well with Petrie), ex AIS player Mark Milligan, and John Hutchison who is starting to back himself.