Northern Spirit, despite being battered off the park, kept the top 6 flame flickering by beating a ten-man Melbourne Knights 2-0 at Pittwater Park this evening. Early dominance by Spirit and a goal to John Hutchinson in the 21st minute, was sustained through the sending off of Antun Kovacic in the 37th minute and a Mark Milligan 58th minute free kick.
Both teams came into this match with off-field developments overshadowing the football. On the park, as coach Lawrie McKinna stressed after the match, there were eight first choice players out for Northern Spirit. We have canvassed the Knight's thin squad before and certainly the application for Victorian state league would have weighed on those players. Player payment problems, and rumours of a move to the Central Coast and re-badging in the new premier league, plus the trial next week in Mexico of the ever-present Paul Henderson couldn't have helped concentration.
Spirit started with the 'nor-easter' behind them, and forced a number of free-kicks in the first 5 minutes but couldn't penetrate. In the 15th minute, Alex Tobin, playing his first full NSL game this year, used his experience to make a move up the left, and got in a curling cross which bounced around and fell to Spirit's Wayne O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan got in a half-bicycle kick which Knight's 'keeper Tommy Tomich held.
In the 21st minute Spirit struck. Adam Kwasnik robbed a Knight's player in midfield, moved up on the right, sent in a cross which reached John Hutchinson, who had read the move to perfection. Hutchinson's header on the run easily beat the 'keeper.
In the 23rd minute Ian Ferguson knocked one over the defence to Hutchinson, but the 'keeper was quickly out to clash, taking the ball. In the 32nd minute Spirit defender Julian Watts conceded a throw in near their corner flag and Melbourne Knights got the ball into the area, where after several attempts to get a shot in the ball came to Stanko Zilic who shot high and wide!
In the 34th minute Watts failed to clear a header, and the ball fell to Billy Natsioulas but the promising striker slammed the ball way over. Following this play, there was a clash between a Spirit player and Antun Kovacic, leading to a straight red-card being shown to the Knights player by referee James Lewis.
After the break the Knights launched into attack, with substitute Nick Sabjlak getting in a dangerous cross that was spectacularly cut out by Henderson.
In the 58th minute Spirit gained a free-kick some 35m out and Ian Ferguson and Mark Milligan stood over the ball. Everyone expected the wily Scottish import to take it, but 'Spike' Milligan slammed it over the wall with such force that although 'keeper Tomich got both hands to it, it skewed over his shoulder and into the net. The Young Socceroo celebrated his first NSL goal with obvious joy!
Jonty Richter got up on the right for Spirit, and with the defence backing off he went himself, getting a shot in but just past the post. In the 32nd minute he did it again, but this time the ball was crossed into Kwasnik, whose header was wide. Spirit injected some fresh legs to up the ante, with debuts given to NYL stars Caetano Lima and Erik Paartalu, and both impressed. Kwasnik again hit a shot in the 86th minute which Tomich didn't hold, but it was cleared.
One minute later the Knight's Sabljak got free from his markers, and hit a shot just under the bar. Henderson got his hands to it, but the force made the ball pop up and it dropped onto the line, but the ball was forced around the upright. The assistant remained unmoved, but it certainly was a moment for correct application of 100% of the ball over 100% of the line.
Young substitute Lima hit one over in the 87th minute from a difficult angle from the left, and before the whistle Kwasnik twice forced Tomich into a save, one pretty straight forward but the other ending in the shot being touched over the crossbar.
Even allowing for Knight's 10 men for 53 minutes, Spirit dominated the match over a poor Melbourne Knights. Best for Spirit were tyro Mark Milligan, Wayne O'Sullivan, Alex Tobin, Jonty Richter and Ian Ferguson, with John Huthinson almost back to his best before succumbing to illness - although it is hard to think of a bad performance. The Knight's best were the evergreen Andrew Marth and 17 year old Adrian Leijer.
Melbourne Knight's coach Ian Dobson was unavailable after the game but a club spokesman said that they expected an answer from the Victorian Soccer Federation at a meeting on the 17th January in regard to their VPL application. He praised his young players dedication in difficult circumstances.
The plain-talking Spirit coach Lawrie McKinna said "its like trying to win the World Cup with an under 20's squad". "It was a hard game, even with the extra man ..... and I'm just pleased we got the 3 points to give us hope." He confirmed that Paul Henderson was going for a one week trial in Mexico. "I wouldn't normally let him go but the way things are and he's been such a loyal sevant of the club", I wouldn't feel right" (in stopping him). McKinna will look at options for a goalkeeper this week. He expects Stewart Petrie (injury), and Vuko Tomasevic (suspension) back for the game away versus the Wolves on Friday night. It should be said that the young guns are taking their chances however.
The crowd number of only 1,496 was very dissapointing. The team is putting in and the play was attractive enough. Even with the cricket on it is hard to fathom. The off-field problems such as player payments, the late switch to a normally sweltering 5pm, the rumoured move to Gosford and loss of identity, the hunkering down on the 'insular peninsular' - who knows why the thousands stay away!? Still those that did turn up were in good voice and even gave 'Hendo' some Mexican themed support to take with him on his trial. The players even seemed to be relaxed and enjoying themselves.