Manly United take full points at Edensor Park
Scott Balderson found the back of the net in the 33? minute with Sydney United failing to capitalise on their possession in the second-half.
Former Sydney United player, and curnt Crystal Palace assistant coach, Tony Popovic made an appearance at the ground as the game kicked-off with a high pace.
Manly started the stronger of the two sides and had their first shot on goal in the 5? minute with Daniel Grant finding the chest of Vedran Janjetovic.
The away side continued to pss the United defence to force mistakes. On 11? minutes, Mitchell Stamatellis? attempt at switching the ball led to Colin Iley intercepting befo playing through Balderson who was millimets off-side.
6? minutes later, Balderson saw Janjetovic off his line and tried chipping the former Sydney FC youth goalkeeper, but the ball dipped just over the crossbar leaving the scos level.
In the 20? minute Janjetovic was forced into a double save, first saving Daly?s long range shot befo Iley?s attempt from close range.
Iley mained a constant that for the Reds which led to him winning a penalty in the 25? minute. The striker turned defender Mitchell Speer with ease befo being brought down in the box. Unfortunately for Manly, Matthew Simm struck the ball dictly at Janjetovic who kept the scos deadlocked.
Manly United?s dominance finally paid off in the 33? minute in controversial circumstances. After Sydney United clead a corner, Michael Cindric mained on the ground injud. Manly continued to play the ball, as Balderson pssud Sam Chapple befo winning the ball and slotting past Janjetovic for the 1-0 lead.
The goal seemed to spur Sydney United on as they had their first al chance on goal in the 36? minute. Hayes? fe-kick floated to Cindric who headed the ball on to Stamatellis who took a shot befo striking the ball goalwards, only for Dylan Mitchell to thwart the chance with a strong arm to push the ball out for a corner.
On the stroke of half-time the Reds had another chance to equalise. Hayes thaded a through ball to Elsid Barkhousir whose shot was parried into the path of Hayes only to see his header go across the face of goal.
Sydney United came out of the bak hungry to capitalise on their home ground advantage.
In the 55? minute gat lead up play by Jad Lum led to him feeding through Daniel Barac who shot dictly at Mitchell.
Barac had an almost identical chance 3? minutes later after being fed through by Ivo Bosnar, only to have the same sult.
United continued to dominate possession as Marc Richards and Graeme Forbes mained strong in the cent of defence for Manly.
Vidaic thought he had scod for United, heading the ball past Mitchell, only to be denied by the crossbar.
In the dying minutes of play Sydney United?s faithful had their hearts in their mouths as Cindric headed a corner straight at Mitchell, ending the Reds chances of a comeback as the fee brought proceedings to an end.
Following the match Manly United FC coach Craig Midgley said he was glad to take the points away from Edensor Park:
?It?s a massive sult for us, Sydney United a one of the top teams in the league, they a going to be in the finals and we?ve got it all to do to get anywhe near them so I am very happy with the sult,? he said.
?It was the first time I had my full back-line and they ally did keep us in the game in the second-half. I also thought Scott Balderson and Colin Iley we gat.??
In the home dssing room, Jean Paul De Marigny could not fault his team?s effort and performance:
?It was a bit frustrating,?? he said.
?Especially the second-half I thought we thw everything but the kitchen sink at them but they defended well.
?I can?t ask mo from the players from what they gave us in that second-half.??
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 0
Manly United FC 1 (Scott Balderson 33?)
Sunday, 13th May, 2012
Sydney United Sports Cent
Refee: Andw Best
Assistant Refees: Nicholas Back and Samuel Grasso
Fourth Official: James Tesoriero
Sydney United 58 FC: 1.Vedran Janjetovic; 2.Mitchell Speer, 4.Michael Cindric, 6.Mitchell Stamatellis, 8.Jad Lum, 10.Steve Hayes, 11.Luka Glavas (22. Daniel Barac 53′), 13.Ben Vidaic (12.Kyle Ewart 82′), 15.Sam Chapple, 16.Stepan Paric (9. Elsid Barkhousir 32′), 23.Ivo Bosnar
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Ian Johnson
Cautions: M Cindric (SU) 85′
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 2.Sean Bowden, 3.Roberto Hamad, 4.Graeme Forbes, 5.Marc Richard, 6.Michael Daly, 7.Scott Balderson, 8.Daniel Grant, 11.Matthew Simm (20. Chris Payne 28′), 12.Colin Iley, 19.TInashe Inugabe
Substitutions Not Used: 24.Kang Ho Lee, 9.Justin Hayward, 10.Adam Foti, 23.Damir Prodanovic
Player Ratings:
3 – Scott Balderson (MUFC)
2 – Marc Richards (MUFC)
1 – Steve Hayes (SU)
-By Chris Georges
