South Melbourne were looking to take all three points in the last home game of the home and away season at Bob Jane Stadium, and at the same time stop a run of three consecutive defeats.
Northern Sprit came out at the start of the first half and just Seemed to have more enthusiasm and energy on the pitch than their higher placed opponents. There was fluid moment and running for each other which would have been a pleasing sight for coach Lawrie McKinna "It was a great effort by the boys and I think the fact that the boys have been paid for the last six weeks has made a difference. They have been through a lot but they have hung in there today and it is looking a lot more positive. There is confidence that a new consortium of (N.S.W) Central Coast will take over and we are building for the new season by giving a number of young players a chance.
For all there possession it was South Melbourne who had the two best chances of the half, Vaughan Coveny missed a golden chance to put the home side in front in the 7th minute after a free kick was floated into the box by Con Boutsianis, the ball was missed by a static Northern Sprit defence and Coveny who is usually more than reliable in front of the goal seemed to miss time his strike for the ball to go harmlessly wide.
Then just after that a good move again in the 14th minute the which involved the captain Coveny, after a good cross field ball which Coveny ran on too but again he could just not find the touch needed to finish the move off. It was the story of the first half really, at least five or six good chances that were missed by a South Melbourne side that frankly looked disinterested.
The chances that South Melbourne had in the first half cost them dear as in the 51st minute the visitors went in front with a goal from Adam Kwasnik who's shot went inside the keepers near post and it was no more than the Sydneysiders deserved.
With their season now on the line you would have thought there would have been more effort from the home side to try to get the goal back. But for some reason we did not see that and they almost went two down after a shot from Spirit's Alex Wilkinson almost put the result beyond doubt, only for his shot to go just wide.
The second goal for the visitors came in the 68th minute when the ball was given away by the South Melbourne midfield and it was collected by Jonathon Richer who then skip around a couple of South defenders, and his shot flew passed an helpless Eugene Galekovic in the South Melbourne goal.
What was a difficult task before had become even harder now a second goal had gone in considering the way South Melbourne were playing. Vaughan Coveny did get what was to prove just a consolation goal for the home side in the 72minute but this could not hide the fact that today South Melbourne were beaten by a better side. This was despite the gulf in their league positions. Coach Stuart Munro was not happy with his player's commitment. He said " Its very frustrating time," He added, " I just wish the players felt it as much as I do. I feel defeat more than anyone and I hate that feeling. The players have got to fell the same way and if they don't they should not be here."
Unhappy about the way his team conceded the goals Munroe said. " For a side that which had the best defensive record in the league we are losing goals that are absolutely comical." He added. "The first one we copped was a joke and the second one was not much better."
The South Melbourne Fans left their team in know doubt how they felt about their team's performance by booing them of the field.