Manly United progress through to TigerTurf Cup final with a win in extra time
The victory put Phil Moss? men into the 2009 TigerTurf Cup Final against Sutherland Sharks on the 15th August at Seymour Shaw in what promises to be a classic affair between two well drilled outfits.
In the early passages of the match it was evident that positions on the TeleChoice Premier League table counted for very little in the TigerTurf Cup, and Blacktown was quick to prove that.
Chris Bedzo almost opened the scoring within the first 3? minutes, but the striker failed to capitalise on a Joel Chianese cross, dribbling his shot into the direction of Manly keeper Brad Swancott.
Matt Lewis and Kain Rastall added their names to the shot takers list for the Demons, but it was Rastall?s shot that sparked the loudest cheer of the afternoon as the ball sailed out of the ground and into an oncoming car.
Manly?s first attacking raid came courtesy of Brad Groves, with the number 24 unleashing a powerful 25 metre shot that was taken care of by Brody Crane between the sticks. Crane filled in for Michael Herbet who was overseas.
But Groves wasn?t done with there, guiding a long ball over the Demons? defence in the direction of Robbie Cattanach who failed to direct his shot past an advancing Crane.
The first 30? minutes were played at a frenetic pace as the players went from end to end, creating half chances without much success in the attacking third.
An example of the lack of execution was evident in the 32? minute when Groves, from close range, failed to find the back of the net with only the keeper to beat.
At the other end, Lewis looked dangerous with the ball at his feet and threatened to register his side?s opening goal, but desperate defence from United brought a halt to any thoughts of a first half lead.
After several attempts at trying to weave through Manly?s defence, Chianese decided to go over the top from 30 metres out, but unfortunately for the Demons, his shot found the waiting hands of Swancott.
Manly didn?t take too long to grab the ascendancy in the second period, and almost picked up a one goal advantage with it.
Cattanach showed off his fancy footwork to beat three Blacktown defenders and turn a ball back into the goal mouth, but Spencer Prior was unable to get his header on target.
Manly continued to press forward and this time it was Ashley Ryan who got head to ball, but unfortunately for the boys from the North Shore, Ryan?s efforts ricocheted off the cross bar and away for a goal kick.
Blacktown almost made their rivals pay for their missed opportunities as Ante Deur and Chianese pushed forward, but the new Sydney FC Under 20 recruit was unable to get a decent shot from the Deur cross.
Tyler Simpson showed his strength to shrug off two Manly players, but as he made his run down field, it was a long ball which let his side down, sailing into no man?s land and out for a goal kick.
Matthew Bingley found himself in unfamiliar territory when he belted home a shot from outside the box, but despite a slight fumble, Crane was able to control the ball and deny United yet again.
The last 15? minutes of the match saw the players come to life.
As the clock ticked down, desperation began to show as rash challenges and stray shots became a familiar theme in the semi final fixture.
In the five minutes of injury time, Manly almost snared a heartbreaking victory from a corner in the dying seconds, but Michael Lloyd Green was denied on the line by a brilliant save from Crane.
But after dour struggle, both teams finished the match at level pegging and with the scores locked at 0-0, were forced to decide the match in 30? minutes of extra time.
Manly started off the stronger team and almost took an early lead in the first period of extra time, but again the final pass let them down in the goal mouth.
But Manly didn?t have to wait too much longer to finally take a 1-0 lead as Lloyd-Green capitalised on the lead up work of Cattanach to slot his shot past Crane from inside the penalty area.
Blacktown?s hopes of a come back were brought to an end when super sub Lloyd-Green weaved through the tired Blacktown defence for his second goal in the space of 8? minutes to give Manly an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 105? minute.
Blacktown coach Ken Schembri was left to rue his side?s missed opportunities.
?We played very well in the first half but I thought we lost our way a bit in the second half,? Schembri said.
?We certainly created enough chances but we just couldn?t finish them off.?
On the other hand, Phil Moss was pleased with his troops? finish to the match.
?I think our fitness levels really shun through today because it was a bit of an arm wrestle,? Moss said.
?I wasn?t happy with our first half.
?I think we were slow out of the blocks but we came home strong which I knew we would do.?
Match Stats
TigerTurf Cup Semi Final
Blacktown City Demons 0
Manly United 2 (Michael Lloyd-Green 97?, 105?)
Venue: Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Assistant Referees: Matthew Samson, Alex Long
Attendance: Approx 400
Blacktown City: 40.Brody Crane; 2.Tyler Simpson, 3.Paul Karbon (5.Daniel Wilkinson 60?), 4.Luka Dukic, 8.Chris Bedzo (11.Nick Sama 67?), 9.Kain Rastall (c) (15.Ray Miller 94?), 10. Luke Austin, 14.Gavin Forbes, 16.Ante Deur, 17.Joel Chianese, 29.Matt Lewis
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Matt Ryan; 13.Ben Ellis
Yellow Cards: Daniel Wilkinson 119?
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United: 1.Brad Swancott; 2.Shaun Bowden, 3.Andrew Mailer, 4.Spencer Prior, 6.Scott Thomas, 7.Ashley Ryan (8. Michael Lloyd-Green 70?), 9.Robbie Cattanach (11.Craig Midgley 105?), 15.Keith Shevlin, 16.Joey Schirripa (c), 20.Matthew Bingley, 24.Brad Groves (10.Giosue Sama 80?)
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Dylan Mitchell; 19.Luke Reading
Yellow Cards: Andrew Mailer 75?
Red Cards: Nil
Man of the Match: Andrew Mailer (MU)
-By Michael Chammas
