James Virgili ... 'I probably didn't even expect to be in the starting side this close to the start of the season.' Source: AAP
They are the fairytale moments in a game that young players struggle to dream up.
Try and imagine this: You make a run down the right edge and beat a player before taking the ball into the box.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | Perth | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Wellington | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Brisbane | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Central Coast | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Heart | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 8 | Sydney | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
| 9 | Victory | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 3 |
| 10 | Western Sydney | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
You mesmerise two more defenders before calmly laying the ball back for a superstar to tap in from point-blank range.
Newcastle Jets flyer James Virgili, 20, lived that dream last weekend against the Central Coast Mariners when he showed footwork and skill to turn provider for Emile Heskey in the 2-1 win.
Virgili was still struggling on Monday to come down from the high.
"If you'd have said a few months ago I'd be setting up Emile Heskey for a goal, I would have said you were crazy," Virgili said.
"It was great to get the assist, particularly for someone like him.
"I probably didn't even expect to be in the starting side this close to the start of the season.
"I knew I'd get my chance but thought that it might come during the second half of the season when we had a few injuries or guys away.
"But Gary (coach Gary van Egmond) has given me an opportunity to start in the past two games and hopefully I can continue to play well and keep my spot."
Virgili was the youngest debutant to play in the A-League when van Egmond threw him in as a substitute against Wellington in 2009.
Three years later and he is still searching for the confidence in his own game to back up his talent.
Making the sort of run he did before setting up Heskey won't hurt in that regard.
Van Egmond, knowing Virgili's potential, rode him hard during pre-season training, which the coach admitted after the Mariners game.
But Virgili says the criticism was a case of van Egmond being cruel to be kind.
"He got stuck into me a fair few times but that's all good," Virgili said.
"I know he likes me because he's told me. But you don't want a coach patting you on the back all the time.
"You want someone riding you when you are not getting things right so that you can improve. He wasn't always giving it to me. It was probably 50-50."
Virgili said the influence of Heskey on him and the team has been all positive.
"He's always talking to the young blokes about how we can improve our game," Virgili said.
"He's told me my strength is my speed and taking people on when the opportunity presents itself, and has been encouraging me to do it.
"When I made the run, I knew he was going to be there. Even at training he seems to be always able to get himself free of a defender and into space, even when they are playing tight on him.
"It was a great feeling after it went in."
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