Wollongong responded to a rallying cry for National Soccer Leagues survival by destroying Northern Spirit 4-0 in tonight's clash at WIN Stadium.

The two-time NSL champions promoted the match as a plea to supporters to back the club and for 90 minutes the players showed why the region deserves a place in next seasons re-vamped competition.

On a wet night the attendance of only 2,855 was disappointing, particularly as Wollongong served up its performance of the season, and equalled a club record of ten games without defeat.

It wasn't a very promising start with a tedious opening 35 minutes.

But two goals in three minutes changed the momentum completely with the Spirit resistance crumbling.

Defender Adam Hughes scored with a spectacular 25m strike and just minutes later striker Stuart Young made it 2-0 tapping home a deflected clearance from unfortunate Spirit defender Alex Tobin.

Wollongong went on with the job in the second half in sweet atonement for a 3-0 drubbing by the Spirit in November.

Nigerian striker Chimaobi Nwaogazi didn't miss the party, benefiting from a slip by Spirit defender Wayne O'Sullivan to make it 3-0 on 63 minutes with his seventh goal of the campaign.

A minute later Young grabbed his second to make it 4-0, with Spirit substitute Jonathon Richter grabbing a consolation five minutes from full time.

The victory puts Wollongong firmly in the play-off picture and with favourable results this weekend they can leap-frog into the top six by beating last-placed Football Kingz in the rescheduled match at WIN Stadium on Monday.

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