Spirit FC too sharp for Wolves

Defender Daniel Cunningham scored first, via a controversial but well taken penalty, in the 14? minute before Ben Gough added Spirit FC’s second goal in the 59? minute to earn a spot in the McDonald?s Cup Semi-Final.

South Coast Wolves had reached the quarter-final following good wins over Bonnyrigg and Bankstown City but couldn’t carry that form into this game, and without former Port Kembla marksman Mark Picciolini , experienced Tynan Diaz, and regular goalkeeper  Brody Crane, they looked underdone.

Spirit FC had admittedly lowlier challengers earlier in the Cup in teams like Camden Tigers and Gwawley Bay but tonight they looked just that much sharper, and kept their shape so much better than a few days earlier when they surrendered to Macarthur Rams in the Super League.

In front of a small and somewhat chilled crowd the game was played at a cracking pace early on with South Coast Wolves making the running – Jason Trifiro first to take a chance. It wasn’t until the 6? minute that Spirit got forward and won a free-kick and Leonardo Papanicolaou got on the end of it, sending his shot wide on the right.

Spirit started to get going and in the 9? minute Papanicolaou got up on the left, crossing to Ben Gough in the area but the goal-poacher scrambled his shot, blasting it over the crossbar.

In the 14? minute Papanicolaou received a ball out of defence and made a weaving run through into the penalty-area before being shouldered off the ball. Referee Peddie consulted his assistant and pointed to the spot. Cries from the Wolves fans for an offside and for fair-charge drifted away in the breeze.

Penalty specialist Daniel Cunningham stepped up and slotted it easily past Wolves ‘keeper on the night, Nikodin Matic. 1-0

Akwasi Agyei  forced Matic to parry his shot in the 22? minute, while 3? minutes later hard working Andres Gomez forced Spirit custodian Murray Nelson to dive to smother his shot.

South Coast’s attack was being marshalled so well by the Spirit defence that they were forced to shoot from distance, and Andrew Paine and Gomez hardly troubled Nelson.

In the 39? minute a sublime ball out of defence by Spirit’s wily Adam Peatey sent Ben Gough on his way but an equally good piece of defending by Nick Littler in the area had him in his pocket.

Just before the half-time whistle an unexpected ball into the area found Gough free but surprised he rushed and skied his shot.

After the break the game opened up even more but with Spirit’s disciplined play still in force. After three chances in succession were blocked, Ben Gough sent the home-side further ahead when he leapt at the ball after Matic dropped a cheeky lob from Papanicolaou, and knocked it past the sprawling ‘keeper.

Papanicolaou was running riot down the left side and the Wolves didn’t seem to have an answer to him after they substituted Nick Littler.

South Coast still sought their share of the spoils however and in the 76? minute a well crafted move ended with a shot that tested Murray Nelson, who could only dive to his left to parry – but the ball fell to Spirit captain Paul Nicolaou who cleared.

4? minutes later good lead-up work by Tayfun Buyukkopru ended with former Fernill Fox Andrew Paine slamming his hard shot into a defender.

Just before he was substituted Papanicolaou hit an angled shot from the left but this time Nikodin Matic spread himself well and smothered the chance.

A last chance for a consolation goal for Wolves was lost when Buyukkopru blasted a shot over the crossbar after a surging run in the 87? minute.

Spirit FC, now await drawing of their opponent and whether they retain their home ground advantage, run into the semi final on Wednesday 23 June.
Match Stats

Spirit FC 2 (Daniel Cunningham 14′ pen, Ben Gough 59′)
South Coast Wolves 0

Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Christie Park, Marsfield
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Leigh Pigram and Adam Coombes
Crowd: 50
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson; 18.Tom Lovell, 2.Daniel Cunningham, 4.Paul Nicholaou (C), 20.Scott Wright, 6.Matt Peatey, 8.Josh De Kelly, 15.Akwasi Agyei  (14.Ashley Balcomb 54′), 12.Adam Peatey (17.Evan Daglis 84′), 10.Leonardo Papanicolaou (19.Peter Cejka 88′), 7.Ben Gough (9.Tim Simpson 78′)
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Lachlan Harte
Yellow Cards: Adam Peatey 73′, Peter Cejka 89′
Red Cards: Nil
South Coast Wolves:  40.Nikodin Matic;12.Alex Mansueto, 4.Nick Littler (7.Andrew Keep 56′), 5.Nick McInerney (3.Greg Valic 51′), 14.Andres Gomez, 15.Chris Nathaniel, 8.Tayfun Buyukkopru, 10.Jason Trifiro, 11.Andrew Paine, 12.Jared Fish, 13.Sean van Rooyen
Substitutes Not Used:  1. Brody Crane, 6.Lisandro Berbis
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Dunkerley