Manly continue impressive form with victory over Sutherland

Josh Sama settled the score in the 36′ minute after Mitch Macedo attempted a shot that deflected perfectly to the unmarked Sama in the box who curled a beautiful left foot shot around Nathan Denham to score at the base of the right-hand upright, but if luck were involved it was deserved on the night.
Sutherland had the early chance to take to the lead when Srecko Mitrovic played through Panni Nikas who slipped the ball to Brad Boardman who in turn crossed for Nathan Ralph but his effort was well saved by Brad Swancott in the Manly net and it wasn?t the last time he would be called into action this night, and against the same player.
Manly countered with a couple of half-chances before the move of the match really should have seen the visitors behind when Nikas put a raking ball out to the right for Michael Katz to cross for Boardman. The lanky striker took an air swing at the ball and wrong-footed two defenders as it continued across the penalty-area, only to see Nikas dummy and Ralph strike it thunderously from no more than 8-yards out, but Swancott was perfectly placed to make a reaction save and tip it around the post and away from danger.
5′ minutes later and Sharks midfielder Neil Jablonski found himself in referee Kris Griffiths-Jones? book; something that would come back to haunt him later on.
Sama then netted on 36′ minutes and probably should have doubled both his and Manly?s tally just before the break when he headed, unmarked, wide of the sticks from a Michael Lloyd-Green cross and could only stand with his head in his hands at missing such a clear cut opportunity.
The Sharks came out firing at the start of the second-half and Nikas again found himself with a half-chance when swivelling on the edge of the box only to see his effort slide just over the bar, as yet another chance went begging before Manly again took control of midfield and dictated terms to the home-side.
As Sutherland went in search of an equaliser they left gaps at the back which United were only too happy to exploit. The physical presence of the defence and midfield not only saw them begin to create many more chances but made you wonder just how they didn?t add to their score.
Joey Schirripa, Spencer Prior and Matthew Bingley marshalled the United back-line – any fleeting opportunities to come the Sharks way were either taken without hesitation or snuffed out – and apart from a 5′ minute spell during the match, never really threatened to be beaten as the mixture of youth and experience came to the fore.
Any chance Sutherland had of salvaging a point was dashed when Jablonksi was shown a second yellow, and therefore a red card, with eight minutes to go. Manly, in this sort of mood, held on to the lead in a hard but fair contest that offered plenty of action, thrills and spills, showcasing their TeleChoice Premier League title aspirations are no flash-in-the-pan dreams after beating both Sydney United and Sutherland in consecutive weeks; something no other team has been able to do so far this campaign.
Sharks boss Robbie Stanton commented after the match:
“I thought we created the more clear-cut chances tonight but the reality is we simply didn?t do enough to win.
“Manly clearly wanted it more and it?s probably fair to say we were outplayed a little tonight.
“They were clearly the better side and out thought and out enthused us in this game even if we were a bit flat early on but they deserved their win and any Phil Moss side is difficult to break down and you know you are in for a tough game.”
Phil Moss was pleased with his side’s showing:
“Our defensive structure is gaining confidence each and every week -the pairing of Prior and Bingley has added the experience we have been lacking and Schirripa has been showing just what a class act he is at left back.
“Edensor Park and Seymour Shaw at not easy places to come and play but we have managed to leave with 6-points in two matches and I don?t think we ever lost control tonight which is very pleasing.
“I think the players are starting to realise just what needs to be done week-in, week-out and the overall game plan is taking effect and I can?t be unhappy about that but Sutherland gave us a great workout tonight.
“It was a tough game but we?ll take the win and prepare for next week now.”
Sutherland won the U/20 match by the same score in the earlier game.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 0
Manly United 1 (Josh Sama 36′)
Saturday 23rd May, 2009
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Alyson Flynn and Bashir Amar
Fourth Official: Andrew Brown
Crowd: 523
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denhan; 2.George Souris, 3.Srecko Mitrovski, 4.Michael Robinson, 6.Chris Price, 7.Jimmy Bakis, 8.Nathan Ralph, 9.Brad Boardman (10.Matt Hall 70′), 12.Neil Jablonski, 15.Michael Katz, 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 17.Jordan Nikolovski, 98.Blake Powell, 99.Kyle Stuart
Yellow Cards: Jablonksi 28′, 82′
Red Cards: Jablonksi 82′
Manly United FC: 1.Bradley Swancott; 3.Andrew Mailer, 4.Spencer Prior, 6.Scott Thomas, 8.Michael Lloyd-Green, 10.Josh Sama (11.Craig Midgley 89′), 13.Mitch Macedo (2.Ashley Ryan 76′), 24.Joey Gibbs (19.Robbie Cattanach 64′), 15.Keith Shelvin, 16.Joey Schirripa, 20.Matt Bingley
Substitutes Not Used: 40 Rhyss Keane, 5 Joel Grenell
Yellow Cards: Prior 84′, Thomas 90’+3′
Red Cards: Nil
-By Micky Brock