Suns melt Manly for first win in 2011
Heavy rain hit the Northern Beaches on Friday and before kick-off ensured free flowing football was out of the question. In the end, it was not a game many who braved the cold will look back at with fondness. Scrappy is the best description.
One time Manly player James Monie carved out the first half-chance of the contest, laying the ball off to Tirovski after 4′ minutes. But he snatched at the chance, shooting wide of the target.
9′ minutes later the home side almost took the lead following a Scott Balderson free-kick. The energetic midfielder directed his effort at the near post, but Suns goalkeeper Dion Shaw was up to the task.
On the 20′ minute mark Manly had a legitimate penalty claim ignored by referee Steve Lucas. Justin Hayward was about the pull the trigger before being clipped in the area. It seemed an obvious spot kick, but Lucas waved play on.
7′ minutes later Rockdale’s Shay Spitz went on a mazy run but produced a tame effort that United gloveman Kang Ho Lee had no problems dealing with.
Balderson then had the best chance of the first-half. A pinpoint cross from Hayward should have been buried from six yards, but Balderson somehow headed wide of the target.
After the break many sensed one goal would decide the contest. Both teams had half chances, before the Suns took the lead on 67′ minutes.
Manly wingback Jimmy Oates, who gave away a penalty against Sutherland a few weeks ago, was guilty of a rash challenge again. The Suns broke on a counterattack and Oates fouled Spitz. Tirovski held his nerve from 12 yards, leaving Manly chasing the game.
The last 20? minutes saw Manly United press repeatedly. Oates could have redeemed himself on 88′ minutes, but couldn’t beat Shaw when clear on goal.
Suns coach Lee Sterrey was relieved to chalk up his first win in the NSW Premier League this season:
“In the first-half I thought we were really good, especially in the first 20? minutes,” he said.
“Our shape was great, we opened them up quite a bit.
“We needed a win to get some confidence.
“We have been leaking a few goals, so it was pleasing that didn’t happen again.
“The result shows the character we have in the sheds.”
His opposite Craig Midgley was disappointed with a number of his players:
“We had far too many lads who had an off night,” he said.
“We didn’t create much ourselves, we only started improving once we were chasing the game.
“Conditions weren’t great, but it was the same for both teams.
“Hopefully we can use this as a learning curve.”
In the Grade-20 match, Rockdale City beat Manly United FC 2-0.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 0
Rockdale City Suns 1 (Sash Tirovski 67′ (pen))
Saturday 23rd April, 2011
Cromer Park, Dee Why
Referee: Steve Lucas
Assistant referees: Sarah Ho and Craig Fisher
Fourth Official: Alex Long
Crowd: 300 Approx.
Manly United FC: 1.Kang Ho Lee; 2.Jimmy Oates, 4.Graeme Forbes, 5.Marc Richards, 6.Michael Daly, (14.Seung Soo Lee 77′) 7.Scott Balderson, (21.Joey Gibbs 63′) 8.David Dodd, 9.Robbie Cattanach, (18.Colin Iley 61′) 10.Adam Foti, 11,Justin Hayward, 17.Matt Sim
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Tonu Liiband, 25.Jordan Edwards
Yellow Cards: Hayward 7′
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale City Suns: 22.Dion Shaw; 13.Giorgio Speranza, 7.Peter Apolevski, 23.Askin Oygur, 10.Sash Trajcevski, 11.Adem Kir, (20.Rob Speranza 79′) 14.Hsuki Hasegawa, 8.Dominic Hudap, 3.Shay Spitz, 17.Sash Tirovski, (5.Jeffrey Issa 68′) 18.James Monie (9.Jason Naidovski 79′)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Ben McNamara, 19.Marino Musumeci
Yellow Cards: Monie 14′, Oygur 85′
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Dion Shaw (RCS)
2 – Shay Spitz (RCS)
1 – Matt Sim (MUFC)
