Parramatta Power came away from Narrabeen with three points and some relief at winning 1-0 over a fired up Northern Spirit courtesy of a 23rd minute strike by Sasho Petrovski, and escaped a penalty against them through extraordinary myopia by the game officials.
The game started at 5pm, through one of those stupid changes that have plauged the NSL this season, and it was still hot and humid despite a whiff of a breeze. The first half suffered through it, but lifted in the second.
The game started with Spirit pressing Parramatta, who were without Simon Colosimo and Ahmad Elrich bith on their way to Venezuela after being the first NSL players called up to a full Socceroo side for some years.
In the 4th minute Lucas Pantellis shot wide from the left, and three minutes later Sasho Petrovski got up dpown the right, with Spirit keeper Paul Henderson backpedalling, but his cross was cut out by Alex Wilkinson off Ante Milicic's head.
In the 17th minute there was a great ball early by Ian Ferguson to John Hutchinson, who was brought down in the area, but not for last time the referee played on. So too did Hutchinson but his shot was blocked and a follow up shot from Petrie was blocked too.
In the 23rd minute Lucas Pantellis, in the absence of Colosimo, swung in a great corner to which Petrovski rose and headed against the underside of the cross-bar. As the Spirit players surged toward it the ball dropped down just across the line, and efforts from Wayne O'Sullivan and Henderson to save it were too late.
In the 28th minute Fernando Rech blasted one over and then five minutes later Matthew Osman got up on the right for Spirit and got in a cross to a rampaging O'Sullivan. The ex Power midfielder was just beaten by Clint Bolton in the Power goal. In the 38th minute Spirit midfielder and Australian U20 Mark Milligan swung a fine ball into O'Sullivan free in 20m out but Bolton smothered the shot.
In the 41st minute Ante Milicic, unable to get close due to very close attention from Australian U20 Alex Wilkinson, lobbed a shot from 15m which would have hit the crossbar but Henderson helped it on its way. Then the moment of controversy! The ball was knocked into a crowded Parramatta goal area and from among the crowd the arm of Alvin Ceccoli rose, just as the ball arrived, deflected off the arm and power cleared. Unbelief among Spirit fans and players alike. It was just as well when rferee James Lewis blew for hal-time, calming the situation and proving that there was a pea in it!
After the break the game picked up tempo, with a 48th minute shot across goal by Milicic, and three minutes later Jonty Richter for Spirit held in the box, broke free but blasted his ruched shot over the crossbar.
In the 63rd minute Ian Ferguson brought Richter into play with a fine through ball but the shot was blocked and then hit over. Spirit were starting to dominate and four minutes later John Hutchinson sent in a cross to Richter but the ball was cleared by the Power defence.
The 70th minute found Power pressing and Milicic hit a swerving shot which Henderson did well to push wide. Pantellis, who has been a revelation in recent Power games snapped a volley from 25m but it went over. With Spirit pushing up Power played on the break, and substitute Mark Bridge was played in by a long ball in the 81st minute however Henderson dived left to push it past his left upright.
As the game wound down Spirit were still up for it, pressing hard against Power who had men behind the ball. The goal that Power got was well taken but if the 44th minute penalty had been given it may have opened up play more in the second half. It could have been a different game.
Best for Spirit: Jonathan Richter, Wayne O'Sullivan, Alex Wilkinson, Ian Ferguson, and Paul Henderson. Power were well served by Alvin Ceccoli, Lucas Pantellis, and Michael Beauchamp.
Power moved eight points clear of third placed Adelaide United and given 4th placed South Melbourne's slip up in NZ one more point from their two games should take them into the coveted top 2 spot.