(This is a different report to the one I've submitted to Inside Soccer. BTW, I share Andrew Howe's and others' views about list-reports - I welcome their different styles, and the fact that they're generally written by the fans of sides, rather than those who've had their emotional connection with the game knocked off by years of sitting in press-boxes. As it happens, I posted the team line-ups and officials' details to the list yesterday, as I know that's usually the hardest part for fans' reports. I also figured there'd be other reporters who'd want to post their match reports and I had an Inside Soccer report to write. I was sitting in the BJS press-box on Sunday and so had access to the team-sheets, and ref' details. I was also in on the consensus that is created in determining *in what minute* a goal is scored, a substitution made, and who made the pass three passes before a goal. I also had a nice desk to write on, and didn't have other fans' beers spilt all over my notebook, unlike the conditions which apply to many other reportees. Even then you'll notice that I'd mis-spelt Vaughan Coveny's name.........)

South Melbourne nullified Newcastle's attempts in midfield, and kept control of the ball for much of the game without extending themselves, and ran out 2-0 victors in their second home game of the season.

Kiwi international Vaughan Coveny celebrated his more consistent run in the side by scoring either side of the break. And with striker John Anastasiadis coming on as a sub late in the game, then leaving a few minutes later with a hamstring injury, chances are Coveny's scoring form will lead to an extended stay in the line-up. Coveny was jumping out of his skin at the anticipation of a Kiwi presence at next year's Confederations Cup, and is aware of the increased profile this has given the All Whites within New Zealand and also the Kiwi players in Australia.

Coveny's first was when he followed up a long-range shot spilt by Newcastle keeper Bob Catlin after Catlin needed to dive to stop at the feet of Coveny and a defender. His second was from a close-range header after Steve Panopoulos was fed a ball wide to the left before launching a deep cross to space at the far post.

Newcastle was rarely able to settle in possession, with David Clarkson and Panopoulos beavering away in the middle, and Nick Orlic, Steve Iosofidis, and Tansel Baser capably exchanging any balls that got through.

Breaker Brad Wieczorek made some handy moves down the left side in the second half, and crossed well, but found too few support players willing to commit. A fifth minute injury to Tom Haythornthwaite, subsequently causing him to be substituted by zzz in the 12th minute, didn't assist Newcastle settle.

In last year's encounter between these two sides at Bob Jane, the match exploded to life in the last minutes as Newcastle equalised an early South goal with only minutes left, only for South to grab an injury-time winner. This time the margin between the two sides meant that the scales were always tipped South's way, even though South looked as if they were operating well within their capacity.

Newcastle were not allowed to develop anything cohesive, and had no-one on the park able to set the agenda as did South's back four.

New signing Jim Tsekinis started his first game for South, and coach Angie Postocoglou was happy with his seventy minutes on the park, saying Tsekinis will only get better for South as he learns South's patterns. Jason Polak returned to action when he came on as a sub for the first time after a long injury lay-off.

Newcastle's Robert Shannon and Sang Chool Yoon were impressive for parts of the match, but South was not in the mood to let Breakers build up play, nor was Newcastle able to shake off the shackles.

Maybe as an indication of the intensity of the match, maybe as an indication of the players' belief as to its outcome, there were no bookings and hardly even a stern refereeing word.

South Melbourne was never really stretched in disposing of Newcastle at Bob Jane Stadium thanks to a Vaughan Coveny goal in each half.

The first was after 22 minutes when he followed up a Curcija shot from distance which was spilled by the experienced Catlin and giving the New Zealander a regulation tap-in from less than five metres. Catlin had to dive to deal with the shot, a defender, and Coveney all trying to occupy the same space, and failed to hold the ball.

By this stage, Newcastle's planning was disrupted by the early departure of Haythornthwaite who had collected an ankle-knock in the fifth minute, and was substituted before the quarter hour.

Newcastle's battled throughout the match, but couldn't either battle or carve a path through the midfield as South - especially Clarkson Orlic and De Amicis comfortably dealt with any potential Breakers' threat.

South's midfield had significant periods in possession, and played its usual game of probing for an opening into which Coveny or Curcija would move at pace.

It was this pairing which was preferred to one involving Anastasiadis who had a remarkable game. Anastasiadis had come on with about twenty minutes to go, sufferred an early head clash but continued, only to be forced from the park sixteen minutes later with a hamstring injury. Whereas South's other two substitues had been warming up for more than twenty minutes, Anastasiadis was on the ground only a very short time after leaving the bench.

By this time however, Coveny had put the game beyond Newcastle's reach with his second after 59 minutes. Panopoulos had drifted to a position wide on the left where he was found by a ball played diagonally. He made some ground before sending in a deep cross which beat Catlin and fell perfectly for Coveny to head home from close-range.

The game was played with both sides seemingly in second gear, perhaps a sign that no-one wants to show everything so early in the season. That there were no bookings is an indication of the manner of the match during which there were few incidents warranting even a stern word from referee Blaney.

Newcastle's best period came after Coveny's second goal when first Buonavoglia stole a sloppy ball played across South's defensive four and rapidly advanced on Petkovic. South's goalkeeper, hardened by last week's game at Hindmarsh Stadium - where he kept South in a game that should have been lost - quickly closed down and blotted out the threat.

Not long after, Yoon made a skilful turn on the edge of the penalty area and, seeing Petkovic a little off his line, attempted a clever chip which only just failed to clear the goalkeeper's reach.

Wieczorek had spells of looking dangerous in the second half when he was able to make some runs down the left wing, but Newcastle never seemed to commit the players into supporting attacking positions, meaning South's tall defenders were less pressured than they should have been.

Polak made a welcome return to active duty after a long period of injury, and looked as if he enjoyed his twenty minutes after replacing Lozanovski. Lozanovski hasn't yet reached his level of danger of last season, and South's midfield misses the vision and skill of Damianos, and - temporarily for reasons of injury on Sunday - captain Trimboli. De Amicis was stand-in for the night.

But with seven points from three games, and tied for League leadership, coach Angie Postocoglou was happy with his team's early season form.

Double scorer Coveny was also pleased at getting two consecutive full games for South. In the post-match press conference he said he felt the game had always been under control for South, and that despite missing the presence of Damianos, the squad was full of quality players.

Postocoglou was pleased at the seventy minutes he got from new signing Tsekinis, and says he'll only get better as he comes to grips with South's style of play.