NWS Spirit FC recorded a fine 2-0 victory over the Northern Tigers on Sunday night at Christie Park to open the beginning of the second half of the season.
A goal in each half was enough for Tony Candy’s team as Savannah Murray opened the scoring, while youngster Talia Younis sewed up the points in the second period.
It was the Northern Tigers’ first defeat since the 24th of March and they will be keen to bounce straight back next week.
The visitors started better and looked to put the young Spirit side under early pressure with some direct football.
But it would be the home team that would open the scoring early on.
A Sarah Morgan corner was not dealt with by the Tigers as the ball found its way to Savannah Murray at the far post.
From an acute angle, the left back swung her effort back toward the goal, taking a deflection and bouncing over the line.
The goal seemed to give Spirit confidence as they stepped up their press and started moving the ball swiftly.
A few dangerous deliveries from the left were just missed by Morgan Roberts coming in from the opposite side, sending warning signs to the Tigers.
Nicola Dominikovich was the first to test Katie Offer, the Spirit keeper getting down well to save.
The Tigers went even closer shortly after, Olivia Cartwright rising well to get her head to the ball, sending if just over the top corner.
On the half hour mark, Ella Abdul Massih cut in from the left and sent a wicked effort goalwards, the ball curving late and going inches wide of the top corner.
Not long after it was the Tigers turn, Jade Mcatamney delivered a fine cross finding Beth Bernardi at the far post, the latter sending her effort just off target.
Seven minutes after the break, Spirit were in awe they hadn’t double their lead.
A fine run and square ball across the face of goal by Abdul Massih found Roberts inside the six-yard box, only for the generally fine finisher to smash her effort against the post when it was harder to miss than score.
From here the Tigers started to turn the tide and put Spirit under some defensive pressure.
During this period, Kaiya Buchanan and Erin Pridmore were colossal at the back for the home side, defending well and repelling the visitors.
Hannah McNulty had a chance for the Tigers, her effort from the right well saved by Offer.
Almost out of nothing the Tigers equalised as a Mcatamney cross was tipped onto the bar by Offer.
From the resulting clearance, Cartwright almost wrote her name in lights, letting fly from outside the box with a swerving effort, only for Offer to make an incredible save.
With 10 minutes to go the home side secured the points.
Sarah Morgan battled hard on the left to win the ball high up the field before slotting in substitute Nikkita Fazzari who made an excellent darting run into the box.
Fazzari drove into the area, squared the ball up for a full stretched Younis who poked the ball home.
Natalie Casha who won her spot back in the team showed Tony Candy why she should be in the starting squad, putting up a fine display, almost rounding off her performance with a late goal after intercepting the ball at half way, in the end running out of legs to apply the final touches.
Spirit held out and sent a warning sign to the rest of the competition that they are coming and not giving up on finals football yet.
Match Stats
NWS Spirit 2 (Murray 13’, Younis 80’)
Northern Tigers 0
Christie Park, Macquarie Park
Sunday, 2 June, 2024
NWS Spirit: 41. Offer, 3. Pridmore, 7. K. Buchanan, 8. Younis (53. Sullivan), 10. Morgan, 11. Abdul Massih, 13. Roberts (12. Tavares), 15. Murray, 16. Osborn (48. Fazzari, 17. E. Buchanan, 18. Casha.
Subs Not Used: 23. Holder, 31. Vassallo, 34. Hawkins.
APIA Leichhardt: 39. Hall, 4. Keech, 7. McNulty (10. Hislop), 8. Mcatamney (19. Mortlock), 11. McMahon, 14. Bernardi (2. Wilson), 15. Middleton, 16. Cartwright, 18. Dominikovich, 22. Kraszula, 71. Huynh.
Subs Not Used: 44. Hughes, 74. Burton, 91. Cross.
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By – Nikola Pozder