Devrimol hands Bankstown vital victory over Manly

Peter Tsekenis? men more than matched the former League leaders for large portions over the ninety minutes with goalkeeper Zlatko Joseski producing the game of his life to deny the home side on countless occasions.
With Central Coast Mariners discard Andre Gumprecht impressing down the left-flank, the Lions looked a different team to what supporters have seen in previous rounds of the TeleChoice Premier League.
Former Manly United striker James Monie created the first clear chance of the match after 21? minutes after expert lead up play from Gumprecht and George Nohra.
With only Brad Swancott to beat, Monie measured his shot but clipped it centimetres past the far post where he really should have hit the target.
Robbie Cattanach followed suit on the half hour mark when his free-kick was cleared off the line at the second attempt after a sea of bodies stoically defended the Lions goal.
Manly began the second-half with an early chance to Andrew Mailer who started and almost finished a counter-attack two minutes after half-time but Joseski reacted well to deny the defender on the six-yard box.
Brad Groves then skied a decent chance after being released by Craig Midgley on 54? minutes and from that moment you got the feeling it wasn?t going to be United?s day.
The introduction of Chris Payne and Michael Lloyd-Green provided more spark in attack but the Lions continued to keep the home side at bay.
Bankstown player/coach Peter Tsekenis was lucky not to receive his marching orders with seventeen minutes on the clock after conceding a free-kick outside the 18-yard box for a foul on Payne, but referee Kurt Ams felt the challenge only warranted a stern verbal warning.
Cattanach almost won the match approaching injury-time after a sharp flick from a corner but Joseski again thwarted his goal-bound effort.
A minute later Tsekenis should have done better after meeting a bouncing ball at the far post but rushed his shot and ballooned it over the crossbar.
With Ams repeatedly looking at his watch to end proceedings, a needless free-kick on half-way saw the Lions direct the ball at Swancott who could only watch on in horror when Tayfun Devrimol skinned his marker before finishing off the move instigated by Gumprecht.
Tsekenis was a relieved man in the sheds and hopes the result will see his talented squad rocket up the table: 
?We haven?t had a lot of luck this year so we will take three points away from home with open arms,? he said.
?The boys know they haven?t been playing anywhere near their potential and in order for us to improve we must win games week in, week out. 
?I thought the performance was decent, it will give us a lot of confidence and something to build a foundation on.?
His counterpart Phil Moss was happy with the effort but did admit his team?s confidence has waned in recent weeks: 
?I wouldn?t say we are in a form slump, we just aren?t having the luck we enjoyed earlier on in the season,? he said. 
?Credit to Bankstown, everyone knows how good they can be on their day and the performance they dished up didn?t surprise me.
 ?They matched us and took their one decent chance while we fluffed ours all afternoon, we were nowhere near clinical enough.
 ?I think a draw would have been a fair result but football doesn?t always pan out the way you want it to.?
MATCH STATS
Manly United 0
Bankstown City Lions 1 (Tayfun Devrimol 92?)
Venue: Cromer Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: David Christie, Gareth Askham
Crowd: 800 (approx)
Manly United FC: 1. Brad SWANCOTT; 3. Andrew MAILER, 5. Pascal JULLIARD, 6. Brad GROVES, 7. Ash RYAN, 8. Michael WILLIAMS, (Michael LLOYD-GREEN 68?) 9.Robbie CATTANACH, (Cameron JONES 89?) 11.Craig MIDGLEY, 16. Joey SCHIRRIPA, 18. Beau BUSCH, 19. Richie WILLIAMS (Chris PAYNE 58?)
Substitutes Not Used:  21. Luke FEMIA (RGK), 10. Dusan MIHAJLOVIC
Yellow Cards: Joey SCHIRRIPA 65?
Red Cards: Nil
Bankstown City: 1. Zlatko JOSESKI; 3. Shane WEBB, 4. Brett STUDMAN, 5. Richard LUKSIC, 6. Peter TSEKENIS, 7. Steve LIAVAS, 8. George NOHRA, 9. James MONIE, 10. Robert MILEVSKI, (Paul HARRIES 89?) 11. Phil MAKRYS (Tayfun DEVRIMOL 84?) 13.Andre GUMPRECHT
Substitutes Not Used: 2.Ibrahim HAYDAR, 20. Andrew BAZI, 99. Chris Godoy BASCURT
Yellow Cards: Peter TSEKENIS 45?, Philip MAKRYS 66?, Brett STUDMAN 70?, Steve LIAVAS 85?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Zlatko Joseski (BC)
2 – Andre Gumprecht (BC)
1 – Beau Busch (MU)
-By Andrew Hurrell