Super sub Pena seals memorable Manly United win
Played at a frantic pace, both sides battled in midfield for a dominance of possession. Bonnyrigg?s Frederick Graham single-handedly hit the White Eagles ahead midway through the opening half, before Giosue Sama cleverly edge snuck home an equaliser to ensure the sides would go into the break level.
In the end, the composure of Manly United?s experienced rearguard comprising Matthew Bingley and Spencer Prior, along with Fabio Pena?s last gasp effort, sealed the points for Phil Moss? team.
The home-side created the first opening of the match courtesy of some exemplary vision on the ball by Robbie Cattanach. His perfectly floated pass into the path of Michael Lloyd-Green on the right-flank provided the midfielder with a look on goal; his effort though failed to force White Eagles shot-stopper Ali Akbal into a save.
Bonnyrigg replied on 9? minutes via a dead-ball situation. Nathan Rivera?s tantalising cross into the penalty-area created unease for the Manly United rearguard though failed to pick out a team-mate.
The visitors should have taken the lead on 11? minutes when a poorly executed clearance by the Manly United defence from the edge of the penalty-area fell into the path of Milorad Simonovic. Simonovic?s miscued shot on goal fell into the path of an unsuspecting Frederick Graham who sliced his effort over the crossbar.
Manly United?s quick ball movement through the middle troubled the White Eagles and some fine build-up play between Scott Thomas and Lloyd-Green saw the latter deliver a enticing through ball to Giosue Sama; the Bonnyrigg defence stood tall to thwart the Manly United striker.
On the half-hour a pin-point cross via the boot of Lloyd-Green picked out Sama, though despite the striker?s open path to goal, he headed over the crossbar.
The White Eagles made the home-side pay for their error as a swift counter-attack played Frederick Graham on goal. Graham cleverly beat the advancing goalkeeper on the edge of the penalty-area before slotting home with complete ease.
The goal did not deter Manly United as an equally impressive counter-attack down the right-flank provided an immediate equaliser. Andrew Mailer got forward to float his effort from the byline to pick out Sama at the back post; Sama comfortably converted from close-range.
The visitors finished the half strongest as a loose ball in the Manly United midfield allowed the White Eagles to hit on the counter-attack. Danger man Frederick Graham orchestrated the venture into the penalty-area, his slick pass after drawing a defender and the goalkeeper off his line picked out Ilkay Gurbuz; the White Eagles midfielder thought he had put his side ahead once more only to see veteran defender Matthew Bingley retreat swiftly to make a last-ditch clearance on the goal line.
Following the break, Bonnyrigg White Eagles created the first chance of the half. Gurbuz?s forward foray was brought to an end by a Manly United defender, the referee awarded a free-kick from a promising position. The impressive Frederick Graham hit a powerful effort on goal, though failed to dip the ball under the crossbar.
Giosue Sama was then awarded a free-kick in an almost identical position to that of Bonnyrigg only minutes earlier; Sama?s curled effort was well-read by Ali Akbal.
On 67? minutes Manly United created the first chance of the half from open play. A surging ball from the right-flank fell into the path of Keith Shevlin at the back post, though the midfielder?s touch let him down as the ball finished wide.
The half played out with both side?s pressing for an advantage though only a set-piece seemed likely to split the two sides.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles substitute Daniel Willoughby tried his luck from 30-metres via a free-kick, though a lack of precision saw the ball finish over the crossbar.
Bonnyrigg?s best spell of the half ensued as the possessional dominance of their midfielders forced the home-side to retreat. Despite the visitors seeing a lot of the ball, Manly United very nearly hit the front via a glancing Sama header. The striker rose highest to meet a Robbie Cattanach corner, though his effort finished wide of Ali Akbal?s goal.
Manly United threw caution to the wind in the closing stages of the match, pressing the White Eagles down the left-flank. Their perseverance paid off as a match-winner arrived via ?super sub? Fabio Pena. A wasteful corner by Cattanach was played back into the penalty-area from the right-flank, and Pena was on hand to head the ball across goalkeeper Ali Akbal?s goal to score the winner.
Manly United boss Phil Moss was ecstatic with the win:
?I thought my players deserved the win tonight because we played a very solid game,? Moss commented.
?We want to be one of the best passing sides in the competition and I was impressed with the way we moved the ball around tonight.?
The win sends Manly United into equal second spot on the ladder, despite four Round Five matches to be played on Sunday. Manly United does have their clash with West Sydney Berries to re-play following the storms in Round 3 that caused for the match to be abandoned. Moss added:
?It will be important for us to get the win with West Sydney Berries. We were up in the match though the weather prevented us from going on with the job.
?Last season our run home was very disappointing and we really went off the boil. We want to play good football and get the results, especially when playing at home,? Moss concluded.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles captain David Petrovic was disappointed with the final result:
?We have conceded a late goal, and it is really disappointing after we worked so hard.
?The win against Sydney Olympic lifted the confidence of all the players during the week, though this loss is disappointing for all of us,? ended Petrovic.
Earlier in the afternoon, Manly United FC Under-20s ran out 2-1 winners against the White Eagles with goals to Andrew Hayward (29?) and Jamie Garside (54?) on either side of the break cancelling out Ryan Gorgiutti?s earlier effort (19?) for the visitors.
The win lifts Manly United FC to top-spot on the Under-20s League ladder meanwhile Bonnyirgg White Eagles sit in eighth-spot, in anticipation of the remaining Round 5 matches to be played on Sunday.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Giosue Sama 33?, Fabio Pena 89?)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Frederick Graham 31?)
Saturday, 28thMarch, 2009
Cromer Park, Dee Why
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling and David Lockeridge
Fourth Official: Tom Klein
Crowd: 850 Approx.
Manly United FC: 1.Brad Swancott (C); 3.Andrew Mailer, 4. Spencer Prior, 6.Scott Thomas, 24.Michael Lloyd-Green (23.Fabio Pena 85?), 9.Robbie Cattanach, 10. Giosue Sama (19.Luke Reading 90?+2?), 15.Keith Shevlin, 17.Scott Wright, 20.Matthew Bingley, 35.Joseph Gibbs (13.Mitchell Macedo 64?)
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Rhyss Keane, 22.Joel Grenell
Yellow Cards: Scott Thomas 10?, Giosue Sama71?, Robbie Cattanach 73?
Red Cards: Nil
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 23.Ali Akbal; 2.Paul Cotte, 4.David Petrovic (C), 6.Ilkay Gurbuz, 7.Nikola Zonjic, 10.Frederick Graham (19.Antonio Faria 61?), 15.Steven Bozinovski, 18.Tayfun Devrimol, 11.Almir Dizdaric, 13.Nathan Rivera, 17.Milorad Simonovic (8. Daniel Willoughby 54?)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Nened Vekic (gk), 5. Mark D?Alessandro, 9. Eric Nyamekye,
Yellow Cards: Steven Bozinovski 36?, David Petrovic 49?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Giosue Sama (MUFC)
2 ? Frederick Graham (BWE)
1 ? Matthew Bingley (MUFC)
-By Joseph Carlucci
