NWS Spirit FC record first victory of 2024 over Bulls

NWS Spirit recorded their first victory of 2024 after a hard fought 2-1 win over Bulls FC Academy in the Round 7 NPL Women’s NSW Match of the Round.

It took until almost the hour mark before the deadlock was broken and it was broken in some style as Savannah Murray blasted home a screamer.

The Bulls responded and had an equaliser through Daniella Naeimi with about 20 minutes remaining.

With the match heading toward a draw, substitute Sienna Hawkins had other ideas, finding the winner for Tony Candy’s side with 10 minutes to go.

The first chance of the game went the way of the visitors, Alyssa Rose picking up the ball from a fair distance out, her effort just clearing the goal.

Not long after and they went even closer, this time Bella Volkanovski who almost took home the goal of the season trophy, letting fly from a similar area, her rasping volley cannoning off the cross bar.

With five minutes to go in the first half, Spirit finally started getting into the game.

Clare Holder had the first chance for the home side, releasing a thunderbolt toward Trudy Simmons’ goal, only for the ball to come off the under side of the bar and bounce out.

From the same move, the ball broke for Nikkita Fazzari who shot low toward the far corner, her effort flashing past the back post.

Less than 60 seconds later, Holder was played through in the box and brought down, referee pointing to the spot.

Erin Pridmore stepped up to the spot and the Spirit captain saw her spot kick saved by Simmons.

That penalty save, the veterans third save from the spot this season.

Minutes after the restart, Spirit couldn’t believe they didn’t go in front.

An excellent run by Kayla Osborn down the left saw her cut back to Holder who had her effort saved by Simmons.

The rebound fell the way of Fazzari but Simmons reacted well to save, she had to respond once more as Holder had another go, before Natalie Cash tried to blast the ball into the back of net, Volkanovski this time blocking the effort on the line.

It took until 56 minutes for the deadlock to be broken with Savannah Murray scoring her first in Spirit colours.

The left back received the ball some 25 metres out, took a touch and beat Simmons with a powerful strike into the back of the net.

A few minutes later, the home side should have doubled their advantage after the Bulls didn’t deal with a free kick into the box, the ball falling for Fazzari who once more had her effort blocked off the line by some desperate defending.

With 20 minutes to go, the Bulls were level.

Isabella Coco Di- Sipio played a wonderful reverse pass into space for Amber Luchtmeijer who drove into the box and unselfishly tee’d up the cross for Daniella Naeimi who arrived at the far post to bury the effort home.

Coco Di-Sipio almost turned the score around within minutes, her left footed effort inches wide.

The striker was in the thick of it again 60 seconds later, with only Mio Nemoto to be, the Spirit keeper reacted well and saved the one-on-one situation.

With 10 minutes to go Spirit counter attacked and found the lead once more.

Osborn led the counter on the left as space opened up on the right, slotting through Hawkins.

The substitute first beat a defender inside before finding the bottom corner to put Spirit back in front.

Pushing hard for an equaliser, Spirit showed resolute defending to keep their opponents out.

Coco Di-Sipio found herself again front and centre, this time her header coming off the post.

The final chance of the game went the way of the Bulls, a Volkanovski effort fell into the path of Anneke Corry who looked set to score had it not been for a brave Nemoto who put her body on the line to ensure a point for her team.

Match Stats

NWS Spirit 2 (Murray 56’, Hawkins 79)

Bulls FC Academy 4 (Naeimi 69’)

Christie Park, Macquarie Park

Sunday, 13 April 2024

NWS Spirit: 1. Nemoto, 3. Pridmore, 7. Buchanan, 12. Tavares, 13. Roberts, 15. Murray, 16. Osborn, 18. Casha, 23. Holder (34. Hawkins), 48. Fazzari (5. Martin), 53. Sullivan.

Subs Not Used: 20. Bonovas, 32. Henao, 41. Offer, 43. Avery.

Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 5. Thompson, 8. Naeimi, 10. Souza, 12. Rose, 13. Di Sciascio, 16. Coco Di Sipio, 17. Volkanovski, 18. Collins, 19. Corry, 20. Luchtmeijer.

Subs Not Used: 9. Surjan, 22. Davison, 31. Vidal, 98. Morris, 99. Meli.

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By Nikola Pozder