Manly United move into Top-Five
Scott Balderson gave the home side the perfect start when he scored in the first minute. Robbie Cattanach, who is the fittest he has been in years, picked up a loose ball in midfield before feeding Joey Gibbs.
The former Sydney FC utility then played in Balderson, who showed composure beyond his years to angle his effort past Zlatko Joseski at the far post.
With their tails up, Manly bossed the game, with the Lions chasing shadows at times.
22? minutes in United doubled their lead. Receiving a ball from Matt Sim, Balderson hammered a ball into the area, which Graeme Forbes stabbed home from six-yards.
The two goal cushion was richly deserved, but the faithful in the Lucas Neill Stand wanted a third.
Half chances to Michael Daly and Balderson came and went leading into oranges, leaving the possibility of another comeback from an away team on the northern beaches.
2? minutes after the break Bankstown hit back via David Gardiner.
A pinpoint free-kick from Shannon Burgin found the towering defender unmarked at the far post and he made no mistake, beating Dylan Mitchell.
After giving up a two goal lead seven days earlier against South Coast on home soil, Manly were on edge.
Surely it wouldn?t be a case of d?j? vu ?
To their credit they didn?t go into their shells, maintaining the standard of football that has people raving about their flair in 2011.
Hussein Salameh was the Lions best player by a long way, with his distribution and vision impressive, especially in the second stanza.
He deserved a goal and after 66? minutes almost had one.
Skipping past two Manly defenders, he only had Mitchell to beat, but lacked composure at the vital moment, spraying over from six yards.
It was a big moment and the playmaker knew it, throwing his hands in the air in pure dismay.
With 3? minutes remaining, United?s workhorse David Dodd had to be replaced following a hearty challenge in the middle of the park. The tackle left Lions midfielder Peter Peralta fuming. He felt Dodd had his studs raised and should have been sent off, but on closer inspection the tackle was fine.
When referee Jason Blackwood blew his whistle for full-time, the relief was obvious.
Manly continue to defy the critics, with their paper thin squad doing the job week in, week out.
Balderson was outstanding, with Michael Daly and Forbes also pillars of consistency.
The squad will back up on Wednesday night for a third round Waratah Cup clash with Dandaloo FC.
In the Grade-20 clash, Manly United beat Bankstown City 2-1.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Scott Balderson 1?, Graeme Forbes 22?)
Bankstown City 1 (David Gardiner 47?)
Sunday 29th May, 2011
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assistant Referees: Steven Nguyen and Thomas Lee
Fourth Official: Nathan Roberts
Crowd: 350 Approx.
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan MITCHELL; 2.Jimmy OATES, 4.Graeme FORBES, 5.Marc RICHARDS, 6. Michael DALY, 7.Scott BALDERSON, (23.Craig MIDGLEY 81?) 8.David DODD, (14.Seung Soo LEE 88?) 9.Robbie CATTANACH, 17.Matt SIM, (18.Colin ILEY 54?) 21.Joey GIBBS, 25.Jordan EDWARDS
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Kang Ho LEE, 26.Danny GRANT
Yellow Cards: Cattanach 55?
Red Cards: Nil
Bankstown City: 1.Zlatko JOSESKI; 4.Blaz DEJANOVIC, (6.Daniel SLAVESKI 46?), 5.David GARDINER, 7.Steve LIAVAS, 8.Peter PERALTA, 9.Shannon BURGIN, (3.Chris PETROVSKI 64?), 10. Hussein SALAMEH, 18.Lenox TWENEBOA, 20.Fred GRAHAM, (25.Daniel ZELENY 85?), 21.Aman HADID, 30.Suad AMETI
Substitutes Not Used: 19.Steven KRSTESKI, 20.Steven TANUSOSKI
Yellow Cards: Burgin 39?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Scott Balderson (MUFC)
2 – Graeme Forbes (MUFC)
1 ? David Gardiner (BC)
