Resilient Blacktown salvage late draw against Manly United
Manly United appeared to have the match wrapped up as a brace from former Sydney FC striker Chris Payne either side of Ray Miller?s red card for the hosts put the visitors in prime position to take all three points.
Ryuji Miyazawa pulled one back for the hosts before Roberto Hamad?s dismissal handed the initiative back to Blacktown, who were duly rewarded for their persistence with Miyazawa?s magnificent 93? minute equaliser on his NSW Premier League debut.
The match was a great spectacle for the neutral spectator as both sides fought hard for every ball in a match that produced three early contenders for goal of the season.
Blacktown were first out of the blocks, pushing forward from the outset with captain Luke Roodenburg firing wide before Miller saw yellow for a rash challenge in the opening minutes.
Payne caught the Blacktown backline by surprise minutes later with a quick turn of pace saw him burst past Patrick Gatt and into the 18-yard box.
Brody Crane was equal to the task, closing down the angle well to block the shot on his competitive return to the home side.
Payne was not to be denied a goal for his second opportunity, producing a spectacular 45-yard lob to open the scoring on the quarter hour mark.
With Manly on the counterattack and all eyes focussed on Scott Balderson?s forward run, Payne spotted Crane moving forward off his line and smartly floated the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net much to the delight of the travelling fans.
The home side looked to hit back straight away with James Monie smartly putting Miyazawa into space on the right flank.
Miyazawa returned the favour, crossing to an unmarked Monie in the Manly box, however with an option to shoot or an option to tee up Roodenburg the attacker chose neither as his aimless header was easily cleared.
Adam Jenner got in on the action soon after, producing a mazy run from right back before firing his shot straight into Kang Ho Lee?s safe arms from the edge of the box.
Miller also saw his goal bound effort saved shortly before receiving his second yellow card for needlessly kicking the ball away after conceding a throw in, forcing his side to play with ten men for the remaining hour.
Manly had the ball in the back of the net once again on the 40? minute mark after Balderson neatly chipped the ball in after running onto Shaun Bowden?s lofted through ball, however the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
The hosts should have drawn level just before half time after Roodenburg?s flicked header put Miyazawa into a goal scoring position, yet the attacker dragged his shot wide as his team trailed going into the interval.
The break seemed to benefit Blacktown?s game as they appeared to regain their structure after Mark Crittenden?s half-time team talk, however Manly?s organised defensive line kept them at bay throughout the early stage of the half.
Only Roodenburg went close to equalising early in the second period with a 25-yard drive that fizzed inches wide of Lee?s goal.
Manly doubled their advantage on the break shortly before the hour mark as Colin Iley did exceptionally well to prevent a goal kick and pick out an unmarked Payne on the edge of the six-yard box.
Payne calmly stroked the ball home, doubling his tally and putting his side in pole position to hold on for the win.
Crittenden?s double sub midway through the second-half proved to be a pivotal moment in the match as substitute Yuchi Yamauchi found Miyazawa in space 25-yards from goal.
The fleet footed striker brought the home fans to their feet with a brilliant strike that left Lee with no chance as it rocketed into the back of the net.
With Blacktown regaining momentum, things to a turn for the worse for Manly as captain Hamad was dismissed for a second bookable offence after showing a little too much elbow while contesting for a header.
Despite the setback, Iley came close to restoring Manly?s two goal advantage when he wriggled free of Zac Cairncross only to pull his shot wide from a tight angle.
Blacktown pushed forward in search on an equaliser with Jenner?s header easily saved by Lee before Bowden blocked Roodenburg?s powerful volley.
Substitute Justin Hayward almost sealed the points for Manly at the other end as his sheer pace saw him burst through the heart of Blacktown?s defence; however Luke Austin?s last ditch slide saved the day and kept his side in with a chance.
Blacktown were duly rewarded for their resilience deep into added time as Miyazawa produced a near replica of his first goal; leaving Crane with no chance as he launched a stunning 25-yard strike into the back of the net to salvage a point and send the home fans into raptures.
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was happy with the result, stating that he believed it to be an evenly contested match with a result to match:
?I felt the first twenty minutes before the dismissal were fairly even to be fair,? said Crittenden.
?The send off changed the game but I thought the boys got stuck in really well.
?We had a really good pre season and were well prepared and I think that showed today as we kept going and at the end of the day we were two nil down and after a couple of changes we grabbed two bombs.
?Probably in the end I think it was a fair result.
?We had to make a couple of changes and go at them and in the end it proved fruitful.
?They had a couple of late breaks too so it could have gone either way.?
Crittenden was also happy with the individual effort of Ryuji Miyazawa after nailing two stunning goals in his competitive debut for the club:
?That was his first competition game ? obviously he?d played in all of our trials ? but to score a double on debut he?s up there with some pretty decent names like Kevin Keegan,? joked Crittenden.
?He?s very impressive, a handy little player and will be one worth watching this season.?
Despite conceding an equaliser deep in added time, Manly United coach Craig Midgley was also pleased with the result as his side walked away from a tough fixture with a share of the spoils:
?We got out of the blocks quite well and we know Blacktown are very good outfit,? said Midgley.
?We kept the ball and managed to get ourselves well in front.
?They scored a bomb and managed to get it back to 2-1
?Our boys did well and were unlucky to concede another bomb right at the end but there are a lot of positives in drawing at Blacktown as not many teams will come away from here with a result this season.
?Overall pleased with outcome and obviously we?ve been done a bit at the end but that?s football.?
Midgley was also happy with his team?s performance, including that of Chris Payne after grabbing a stunning opener and securing his brace in the second period:
?He?s a real opportunist and that?s why he?s played in the A-League,? said Midgley.
?He?s got a spark to him and we?re just glad to have him with us.
?Overall as a team I thought it was a very good team performance and a promising start to the season.?
In the afternoon?s early fixture Blacktown City FC defeated Manly United FC by a 3-0 score line in Grade-20 Division.
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 2 (Ryuji Miyazawa 67?, 90?+3?)
Manly United 2 (Chris Payne 15?, 57?)
Sunday, April 1st 2012
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling and Thomas Lee
Fourth Official: Adrian Arnot
Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 4.Travis Major (17.Luke Austin 76?), 5.Patrick Gatt (11.Yuchi Yamauchi 66?), 19.Zac Cairncross, 14.Adam Jenner, 8.Daniel Bragg (12.David Cain 66?), 6.Matt Lewis, 7.Luke Roodenburg, 15.Ray Miller, 9. Ryuji Miyazawa, 10.James Monie
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Luke Turnbull
Yellow Cards: Ray Miller 3?, Daniel Bragg 20?, Matt Lewis 82?
Red Cards: Ray Miller 27?
Manly United FC: 24.Kang Ho Lee; 2.Shaun Bowden, 3.Roberto Hamad, 5.Marc Richards, 6.Michael Daly, 7.Scott Balderson (9.Justin Hayward 80?), 11.Matthew Sim, 12.Colin Iley, 20.Chris Payne, 21.Leigh Egger, 23.Damir Prodanovic
Substitutes Not Used: 8.Daniel Grant, 14.Mitchell Macedo, 25.Tony Liiband, 15.Jordan Edwards
Yellow Cards: Damir Prodanovic 39?, Roberto Hamad 45?
Red Cards: Roberto Hamad 71?
Player Ratings:
3 ? Chris Payne (MUFC)
2 ? Ryuji Miyazawa (BC)
1 ? Marc Richards (MUFC)
-By Michael Shoolman
