Parramatta Power jumped to equal leadership on the NSL ladder through an emphatic 4-0 win over a young Newcastle United side at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.
With both sides weakened through injury it was expected that Parramatta with their depth would triumph. Power was without players such as Kosta Salapasidis, captain Alvin Ceccoli, John Buonavoglia, as well of course Andrew Durante. In a tactical move tall defender Paul O'Grady came in to cover Esala Masi's aerial reputation.
Newcastle's depth was to be tested by the loss to injury of players of the calibre of Robert Middleby, Damien Brown, Milan Blagojevic, and Adam Griffiths. The Newcastle side was forced to call on another youth team member (18-year old Joel Thiessen) giving, as coach Ian Crook stressed, eight teenagers in the travelling squad. On a brighter note Steve Eagleton had his first start for 8 months, and Michael Prentice made his long awaited comeback to the first team after 12 months, although sooner than expected due to the injury crisis at the club.
The game started brightly with both sides looking for an early opening. In the 2nd minute the excellent Andre Gumprecht tested the range to goal, followed by Fernando Rech who took a snap shot over the bar, and a smart early ball over the defence by Ahmad Elrich to Simon Colosimo, who alas also shot over.
As Power coach Nick Theodorakopoulos conceded after the game Newcastle had not come to get men behind the ball, and Scott Thomas in the 14th minute at last got a long ball into Ryan Griffiths, but the striker's header was weak and over the bar. Four minutes later the impressive Mitchell Johnson got forward and swung a nice cross to Jobe Wheelhouse in shooting range but Michael Beauchamp swiftly closed down the Young Socceroo.
The best chance of the half for Power was Saso Petrovski's in the 29th minute when some lovely passing on the edge of the penalty box between Elrich, Milicic and Rech ended with the ball reaching a charging Petrovski, but his shot from 3m went just wide.
Newcastle's Johnson got forward again in the 34th minute and his curling cross from the right reached a running Esala Masi under pressure at the near post but he could only redirect the ball up and over the crossbar.
Another chance for Power came in the 39th minute when Gumprecht played a delightful ball over the Newcastle defender finding Travis Dodd. With just Newcastle's Young Socceroo goalkeeper Tom Willis to beat, Dodd played the ball straight at the closing keeper and the chance was lost.
With Paul O'Grady shackling Masi the Newcastle side was struggling to penetrate, but Power as well was unable to score in the first half.
With Craig Deans doing a sterling job marking danger man Ante Milicic, it was Petrovski who had more space to make runs, which he did in the 42nd minute from a Gumprecht pass. He was tracked all the way into the area by Eagleton who pounced at the correct moment to snatch the ball away.
Parramatta coach Nick Theodorakopoulos said afterwards that he was " I was very positive at half-time, and that was because Newcastle had played well yet we had created good chances." Citing the superbly worked 29th minute opportunity he stated, "I am very proud to coach a side that can do that!"
Despite a chance to Eagleton on the 50th minute and some variation in attack by Newcastle the 2nd half was the Power show, with a classy display of football that harked back to the smooth side that started out the season.
In the 57th minute Travis Dodd scored against his former teammates. Petrovski brilliantly held the ball well and then slotted the ball behind the defence for Dodd to run onto. Dodd cut out, then in, rounding Willis, and knocked the ball into the back of the net to take the lead.
Newcastle looked like equalising one minute later when Johnson chipped the ball through, it passed everyone, including his own players, the Power defence and keeper, but it dribbled into the goalpost and bounced back into Bolton's arms.
Saso Petrovski then scored in the 62nd minute after intelligent play between Elrich and Gumprecht with a touch at the far post, being left just too loose by the Newcastle defence.
A minute later Millicic let fly with a curling shot that brought out a superb diving save to his left by Tom Willis.
Milicic scored his 12th goal for the season when he finished off in the 71st minute. Petrovski sent in a shot which miscued, deflected off the left upright, and then into Newcastle's Craig Deans, and skewed across goal with Willis beaten. A loose marked Milicic had a simple tap in.
Newcastle continued to press despite their obvious tiredness. Griffiths got up on the right in the 75th minute and cut the ball back to Wheelhouse but he was challenged by Dodd and his shot was deflected wide.
Petrovski made his brace in the 84th minute when he scored a goal from an Elrich headed cross from the right, and the recently returned player headed past Willis on the right.
Sasho Petrovski, Ahmad Elrich, Andre Gumprecht, Michael Beauchamp, and Paul O'Grady were the best servants of Parramatta in a team that oozed class right throughout.
Ian Crook, Newcastle's coach, had no excuses for the loss, but he did detail the players he was missing and his young squad. As usual straight talking he said, "Our boys I felt, our effort and commitment was excellent" Š "but we were always going to struggle in the 2nd half" Š "in the end of it we ran out of legs!"
Newcastle's best were their more experienced players Steve Eagleton (ex Power), Craig Deans, Scott Thomas, and Mark Wilson, along with youngsters Mitchell Johnson and Josh Mitchell.
Parramatta were back to their early season form, and must hope that they can stay on top this time - that South Melbourne falter in Brisbane and that the Kingz can work a miracle in Perth, but with only two players in the Olyroo squad they still have depth. Newcastle with less games left, will have to make every game a grand final to get back into the 6, particularly as most are away from home due to the renovations to EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Although a both coaches stated, the game deserved a much bigger crowd, it was one of the bigger ones for Power, with the late switch to Friday (so that their Olyroos could play) not confusing too many fans.