Manly United and Sutherland play out entertaining draw

Craig Midgley’s men started well, with Robbie Cattanach almost opening the scoring after 8′ minutes.
Some clever interplay between Joey Gibbs and Jimmy Oates saw a cross to the far post which Cattanach should have buried, only to see his header go wide of the target.
2′ minutes later fellow striker Adam Foti glanced a ball goalwards, but couldn’t beat the alert Nathan Denham.
On the half hour mark Foti went even closer after turning neatly on the edge of the area, unleashing a shot destined for the bottom right corner. Once again he was denied by Denham, who was proving to be Sutherland’s best player.
3′ minutes before the break Manly United took the lead from the penalty spot.
Wingback Jimmy Oates played in Cattanach who made his way to the goal before he was hacked in the area by Paul Kohler. Referee Kevin Peddie had no choice but to send off the Sharks defender, and seconds later the away side’s optimism was further evaporated when Foti sent Denham the wrong way.
Sutherland Sharks started the second-half with more desire and were rewarded on 48′ minutes.
Oates tripped Matt Bailey in the box, but wasn’t given an early shower, despite the incident echoing Kohler’s challenge.
North Queensland Fury recruit Pani Nikas didn’t need a second invitation, easily beating Kang Ho Lee from 12-yards.
20′ minutes later the away side took the lead. A questionable foul given against Manly’s David Dodd saw Sutherland awarded a free-kick. Bailey caught the Manly defence napping, making a great run and then clipping the ball over Lee at the far post.
The goal shell-shocked Manly United, who lifted another gear as they pushed for an equaliser.
It came in the 86′ minute via Foti.
A mad scramble in the penalty-area saw Sutherland unable to hack the ball to safety, with the in-form marksman heading home from six-yards.
Late in injury time Manly United thought they had jagged a winner but captain Marc Richards was ruled to have fouled Denham. The decision didn’t amuse the faithful in the Lucas Neill grandstand, who began celebrating after the ball was bundled across the line, only to see the effort disallowed.
Sutherland coach Robbie Stanton was delighted with the effort of his players:
“We knew it would be a tough game, I don’t think many teams will come to Cromer Park this year and go home with anything,” he said.
“We dug our heels in, it wasn’t pretty at times, but we will take a point.”
His opposite Craig Midgley felt it was a game his team should have won:
“We didn’t start well in the second-half, the boys switched off and we conceded two soft goals,” he said.
“They (Sutherland) were down to ten men and we had to chase the game, that isn’t good enough.
“We are still undefeated, so we will take that as a positive.”
In the Grade-20 clash, Sutherland Sharks won 2-0 against a lethargic Manly United FC.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Adam Foti 42′, 86′)
Sutherland Sharks 2 (Pani Nikas 48′, Matt Bailey 68′)
Sunday 3rd April, 2011
Cromer Park, Dee Why
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Craig Fisher and Tam Lee
Fourth Official: Nathan Roberts
Crowd: 300 Approx.
Manly United FC: 1.Kang Ho Lee; 2.Jimmy Oates, 5.Marc Richards (26.Daniel Grant 90′), 6.Michael Daly, 7.Scott Balderson, 8.David Dodd, 9.Robbie Cattanach, 10.Adam Foti, 14.Sueng Soo Lee, (Matt Sim 45′) 21.Joey Gibbs(11.Justin Hayward 57′), 26.Jordie Edwards
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Tonu Liiband, 16.Thibault Marchal
Yellow Cards: Gibbs 39′, Oates 48′, Balderson 87′
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 6.Sam Awad, 7.Jim Bakis (11.Todd Halloran 78′),  8.Chris Price, 10.Matt Bailey, 14,Nick Stavroulakis, 15.Mike Katz, 20.Paul Kohler, 23.Pani Nikas, 33.Nicko Tsattalios
Substitutes Not Used: 12.Hayden Morton, 37.Ehsan Popal, 19.Huseyin Jasli, 22. Jack Duncan
Yellow Cards: Bakis 41
Red Cards: Kohler 42′
Player Ratings:
3 – Nathan Denham (SS)
2 – Adam Foti (MU)
1 – Robbie Cattanach (MU)