Manly United leap into second spot after solid win over the Berries

After a sluggish start to the season, Phil Moss? men have hit their straps in recent weeks and last night never looked like losing in front of a small home crowd on a rain soaked peninsula.
After just 7? minutes Manly took the lead when Berries defender Lorenzo Machuca headed into his own net following a crisp delivery from Mitch Macedo?s corner.
Michael Lloyd-Green should have doubled the lead a couple of minutes later but was unable to beat Hamish McLean from just inside the area.
8? minutes later Joe Gibbs showed Lloyd-Green how it was done when he completed a move he started himself in the middle of the park.
Gibbs breezed past two defenders and released Macedo down the left flank who delivered a teasing ball into the path of Lloyd-Green who unselfishly laid off a ball for the advancing Gibbs who shot across McLean to send the loyal regulars in the Lucas Neill Stand into a state of delirium.
With only 20? minutes on the clock Manly were in total control and apart from two decent chances fashioned by Peter Peralta and John Tsironis leading into the break, it looked like a long night was in store for the away side, who were second best in every department.
Josh Sama, who many predicted to have a big year on the northern beaches following some stellar pre-season form, missed a golden chance to double his tally for the season on the stroke of halftime after somehow missing a free header from six yards following a great delivery from a Scott Thomas free kick.
A fuming John Calleja delivered a ?rocket? in the sheds following the Berries woeful first stanza and they almost responded in the perfect fashion 5? minutes after referee Sandro Perticarini blew his whistle for the second half.
Chris Gaitatzis outpaced Andrew Mailer before releasing an inch-perfect ball for Tsironis who shot first time and watched his effort bounce inches past the far post.
Macedo then should have added a third to Manly?s tally 5? minutes later after roundinMcLean but saw his path to goal impeded by a scrambling Jack Sobczyk.
Manly secured the three points after 65? minutes when Keith Shevlin finally scored his first goal for the club.
Some comical defending from Gaitatzis and Machuca resulted in the popular Irishman slotting home inside the area after latching onto a ball from the byline via the boot of Lloyd-Green.
Swancott then had the crowd on their feet on 75? minutes when he produced a world-class save to deny Peralta who unleashed a fierce first time effort from the edge of the area.
While it was good to see no cautions throughout the 90 minutes, a number of challenges from both teams were on the heavy side and probably deserved a card.
An honest Calleja felt his team was outclassed.
?At times it was men against boys in some departments,? he said.
?I don?t want to use the fact that we had a game on Sunday night as an excuse but for whatever reason we were very flat.
?We were slow starters and didn?t stick to our game plan and by the time we got going Manly were in total control.
?I am not sure what it is, for whatever reason some of the boys seem to be ?up? for certain derby games and approach ones like this (Manly) in a different fashion.
?It is something I am not happy about, but all we can do now is put this behind us and focus on bouncing back.?
His opposite Phil Moss, who was without the services of regulars Joey Schirripa, Robbie Cattanach and Craig Midgley, was understandably delighted at what he saw.
?Some of the boys on the fringes of the squad needed a run and they responded just how I wanted them to,? he said.
?Guys like Mitch Macedo and Scott Wright came in and did the job and it was great to have the luxury of bringing off blokes like Spencer Prior and Scott Thomas when the result was assured.
?We have a big game this Sunday away at Sydney Olympic and have a few boys coming back from injury so it?s pleasing to have some selection headaches leading into that game.?
Match Stats
Manly United 3 (Lorenzo Machuca own goal 7?, Joe Gibbs 17?, Keith Shevlin 65?)
West Sydney Berries 0
Tuesday March 31, 2009 ? rescheduled round 3 match
Cromer Park, South Creek Road, Dee Why
Referee: Sandro Perticarini
Assistants: Nick Backo, Terrence Kwan
Manly United: 1.Brad SWANCOTT, 3.Andrew MAILER, 4.Spencer PRIOR, (22.Joel GRENELL 68?) 6.Scott THOMAS, (23. Fabio PENA 80?) 8.Michael LLOYD-GREEN, 10.Josh SAMA, (24.Brad GROVES 60?) 13.Mitchell MACEDO, 15.Keith SHEVLIN, 17.Scott WRIGHT, 20.Matt BINGLEY, 35.Joe GIBBS

Substitutes Not Used: 40.Rhyss KEANE, 19.Luke READING
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None

Crowd: Approx 100
West Sydney Berries: 1.Hamish McLEAN, 4.Adam WITHER, 6.Jack SOBCZYK, 7.Peter PERALTA, 8.Johnny FOTIADIS, 10.John TSIRONIS, 14.Liam AUSTIN, (12.James KOVAS 45?) 16.Kosta LAGOUDAKIS, 17.Chris GAITATZIS, (2.Marjan NOVOTINI 73?) 18. Lorenzo MACHUCA, (9.Cameron JONES 45?) 19.Dimitri ZAKILAS
Substitutes Not Used: 31. Shayne MORRISEY, 40. Matthew SNEESBY
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Player ratings:

3 ? Scott Thomas (MU)
2- Andrew Mailer (MU)
1- Mitchell Macedo (MU)
-By Andrew Prentice