Manly United score first win at Cromer Park for 2012
In front of almost 1000 fans who turned up to celebrate the formal opening of the synthetic pitch, the home side thoroughly deserved the three points.
Their opponents from the Shire were flat, possibly having one eye on next Sunday?s Waratah Cup final against APIA-Leichhardt at the same venue.
After 6? minutes referee Andrew Best showed he wasn?t taking any prisoners, booking Sharks wingback Matt Gordon for wearing skins.
Much to the bemusement of the crowd, it seemed an eternity before Gordon was allowed back on the field.
Moments later the always lively Panni Nikas went close for Sutherland, but it was Hayward who was causing the most problems.
Starting ahead of the suspended Scott Balderson, the blonde assassin threw himself about at every opportunity early in the piece and was rewarded with the game?s first goal on 25? minutes.
The always unselfish Colin Iley found himself in acres of space down the left.
He didn?t disappoint, squaring an inch perfect ball for his strike partner, who smashed home from six yards.
7? minutes later the Sharks should have equalised but Chris Price somehow volleyed over from point blank range.
It was one of those shocking misses park footballers feel embarrassed about, so Price?s majestic forward roll into the goal summed up the situation.
Nikas was causing the United defence all sorts of problems, and on 37? minutes shot just wide of the target.
The one time North Queensland Fury midfielder made amends on the stroke of half-time, slotting home a penalty after Sharks skipper Nick Stavroulakis was fouled in the area.
United came out in an inspired mood after the break, but it was Nikas who almost gave Sutherland the lead on 53? minutes.
Spotting Mitchell off his line, he tried to lob him halfway but his effort sailed wide.
It proved to be pivotal, with United taking the lead seconds later.
Matthew Sim produced a typical lung bursting run down the left flank, and then delivered a cracking ball to the far post which Tinashe Mugabe stabbed home.
The crowd favourite was buzzing, hugging Manly physio Travis Maude in a true ?bromance? moment.
United then sealed the result after Hayward smashed home a penalty on 64? minutes.
After coming on as a substitute, veteran Sharks utility Jim Bakis was sent off on 79? minutes following an ugly incident with Manly skipper Roberto Hamad.
Bakis appeared to have struck the left wingback square in the jaw from point blank range off the ball giving Best no option but to send the Sharks player off.
Hamad, who was spitting chips and blood after the challenge, didn?t see the game out himself.
He was given an early shower following his second yellow card on 85? minutes.
Lively Sharks replacement Hussein Salameh almost made a game of it on 87? minutes, but Mitchell was equal to the task, parrying the goal-bound effort out for a corner.
In the end, Manly deserved the victory, and won?t fear Marconi this Saturday night at home.
United coach Craig Midgley was a happy figure at full-time:
?We were due a win, we haven?t been playing that badly, results just haven?t gone our way,?? he said.
?Justin ( Hayward ) deserved his goals, he worked tirelessly all game.
?When he uses his strengths he is very hard to manage.
?Our shape was brilliant, overall it was a great team performance.?
His opposite Robbie Stanton didn?t mince his words:
?We didn?t show our opposition enough respect and got punished,?? he said.
?A better team beat us today ? they were more determined and hungry, good luck to them.?
Match Stats
Manly United FC 3 (Justin Hayward 25?, 64? Tinashe Mugabe 54?)
Sutherland Sharks 1 (Panni Nikas 45?)
Sunday 1st July, 2012
Cromer Park
Referee: Andrew Best
Assistant Referees: Christian Mehl, Sarah Ho
Fourth Official: Leigh Pigram
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 2.Sean Bowden, 3.Roberto Hamad, 4.Graeme Forbes, 5.Marc Richards, (21.Leigh Egger 44?) 6.Michael Daly, 8.Daniel Grant, 9.Justin Hayward , 11.Matt Sim, (15.Jordy Edwards 60?) (18.James Cullingworth 85?) 12.Colin Iley, 19.Tanishe Mugabe
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Mitch Macedo, 17.Todd Bamber
Yellow Cards: Daly 26?, Hamad 45?, 85?, Forbes 50?
Red Cards: Hamad 85?
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 3.Tyson Rhodes, 4.Yanni Fragogianis, 5. Paul Cotte, 6.Matt Gordon, 8.Chris Price, (7.Jim Bakis 60?) 13.Niko Tsattalios, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 18.Michael Stuart, (12.Hayden Morton 72?) 19.Blake Powell, 23.Panni Nikas (9.Hussein Salameh 69?)
Substitutes Not Used: 2.George Souris , 22.Simon Jaeger
Yellow Cards: Gordon 6?
Red Cards: Bakis 79?
