A backheel, a hat-trick and a drought-breaking win in NPL NSW

Kosta Petratos stole the show in Round 19 of the NPL NSW season, while Evan Souris produced a moment worth waiting for as St George FC finally snapped their long winless run.

Petratos was the headline act at Christie Park, scoring a hat-trick in just 44 minutes as NWS Spirit FC outclassed lowly Sydney Olympic 3-0 on Saturday.

The former Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets forward - the brother of three-time Australia international Dimitri - opened the scoring from the penalty spot before adding a composed second before half-time.

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Then came the moment of the match, with Petratos completing his hat-trick early in the second half via a clever backheel from a set-piece.

It took his tally to six goals for the season and helped ninth-placed Spirit end a five-game winless run.

At The Village Green, St George FC delivered one of the most important results of their season, crushing UNSW FC 4-1 to end a 12-game winless run.

It was also a special night for Evan Souris.

The midfielder brought up his 100th appearance for St George against UNSW earlier this year. In the reverse fixture, he produced a stunning goal to help the Saints become the first side to defeat UNSW at home this season.

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Rocco Smith, Kaidyn Wright and Christopher McStay also found the net as St George secured a much-needed three points, with Kevin Lopes scoring UNSW’s only goal.

Elsewhere, APIA Leichhardt returned to the top of the table with a clinical 2-0 away win over Wollongong Wolves at Macedonia Park.

Cameron Fong’s first-half header gave APIA the lead before Presley Ortiz’s deflected strike doubled the advantage early in the second half. Wollongong created chances through Lucas Trajcevski, Lachlan Scott and Sebastian Hernandez, but Oliver Kalac stood tall in goal to help APIA secure a major result on the road.

Blacktown City also claimed a valuable away win, defeating Sutherland Sharks 2-1 at Seymour Shaw Park.

Captain Travis Major was the difference, scoring twice to lead Blacktown to just their second away victory of the campaign and end Sutherland’s winning run. Nick Olsen pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Blacktown held firm under late pressure.

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At Ilinden Sports Centre, SD Raiders stunned Rockdale Ilinden with a hard-fought 1-0 win in wet conditions, while Marconi Stallions and Sydney FC played out a physical 0-0 draw at Marconi Stadium,

At Cromer Park, Manly United and Sydney United 58 shared the points in a tense 1-1 draw as Western Sydney Wanderers and St George City FA also finished level at 1-1.