Mayora brace stuns Manly United at Cromer

Coming into the game, Nick Theodorakopoulos? side was sitting seventh on the TeleChoice Premier League ladder, following Bonnyrigg White Eagles? win on Saturday night over Blacktown City Demons.  
Given Manly was undefeated at home, few gave the boys from Belmore a chance of returning to the south west of Sydney with the three-points but after a 90? minute master class, Olympic showed they will provide more than nuisance value as the home and away campaign draws to a close.
After a tight first-half that saw both squads fail to create clear-cut chances, Sydney Olympic opened the scoring on 52? minutes.
A foul by Sean Bowden saw Matthew Mayora react first from a hopeful ball delivered to the six-yard box, which the in-form striker flicked into an empty net after Manly custodian Brad Swancott was caught hopelessly out of position.
17? minutes later the visitors doubled their lead and it was that man Mayora again.
A pin-point free-kick from ?Man of the Match? Peter Zorbas saw Mayora capitalise on some hesitant defending, firing past Swancott to give the competition?s under-achievers a two goal cushion.
The introduction of Robbie Cattanach and Jamie Garside gave the home-side a much needed injection of enthusiasm and it didn’t take long for Cattanach to show why he should have been in the starting XI.
The Canberra junior cut back a ball from the right which Giosue Sama side-footed home with aplomb, providing a grandstand finish with 18? minutes remaining.
2? minutes later Manly had a numerical advantage after Adam Biddle was given an early shower.  
After being booked for contesting a 50/50 throw-in, the former Sydney FC winger tackled Scott Thomas with his studs showing and was rightly sent-off by Kurt Ams.
With 10? minutes on the clock, Sama had a great chance to square proceedings after gliding past two defenders on the edge of the area but he shot just wide with Mark Bosnich well beaten.
With Manly renowned for snaring late goals, Bosnich was barking instructions at his back four, who managed to hold firm to secure a priceless win.
An elated Theodorakopoulos labelled the victory as ?season defining?: 
?I am very happy with the result, not many teams come to Cromer and win,” he said.
?I am also delighted at the fight we showed with ten men in the last 15? minutes.
?We have always had the belief, it?s just a matter of playing to our strengths, it could well be season defining.?
His counterpart Moss admitted his charges were second best in most facets:
?Two scrappy goals from set pieces, not good enough from us,? he fumed.
?After we went down 2-0 we started playing, which I find hard to fathom.
?The boys are hurting and I look forward to seeing their response.?
In the Grade-20 clash, a bomb from Jerry Kalouris and a second from Leon Perillo saw Sydney Olympic overcome Manly United 2-0.
Match Stats
Manly United 1 (Giosue Sama 72?)
Sydney Olympic 2 (Matthew Mayora 53?, 69) 
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Cromer Park, Dee Why
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Steve Nguyen and Lance Greenshields
Fourth Official: Chris Wells
Manly United FC: 1.Brad SWANCOTT; 2.Sean BOWDEN, (12.Jamie GARSIDE 60?) 3.Andrew MAILER, 4.Spencer PRIOR, 6.Scott THOMAS, 8.Michael LLOYD-GREEN, 10.Josh SAMA, 13.Mitchell MACEDO, (7.Ash RYAN 79?) 15.Keith SHEVLIN, 20.Matt BINGLEY, 22.Justin HAYWARD (9.Robbie CATTANACH 60?)
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Rhyss KEANE, 5.Joel GRENELL
Yellow Cards: Sean Bowden 52?
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Olympic: 13.Mark BOSNICH; 3.Emmanuel ZUNINO, 4.Mirko JURILJ, 5.Michael CINDRIC, 6.Emmanuel GIANNAROS, 7.Peter McPHERSON, 10.Anthony DOUMANIS, (17.Iain RAMSEY 77?) 11.Tolgay OZBEY, 15.Matthew MAYORA, (8.Paul WITHER 85?) 18.Adam BIDDLE, 22.Peter ZORBAS (14.Chris TRIANTIS 83?)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Zam IENELI, 19.Ken CHUN
Yellow Cards: Peter Zorbas 10?, Matthew Mayora 31?, Adam Biddle 72?, Mirko Jurilj 85?
Yellow Cards: Adam Biddle 
Red Cards: Adam Biddle 74?
-By Andrew Prentice