Manly United record first back-to-back win of the season
Rising youngster Andre Carle gave the visitors a dream start when he headed home at the near post after 5? minutes, only to see United square things up via Adam Foti with 20? minutes played.
Michael Daly then scored the winner following a set piece on 51? minutes.
In a game which failed to reach any great heights, the result lifts Manly to eighth on the NSW Premier League ladder with three rounds remaining.
Following Carle?s early goal, the home side should have levelled a minute later. Striker Todd Bamber was through on goal, but hesitated at the vital moment and the chance went begging.
Foti?s goal was somewhat lucky. Matt Sim beat his marker with a sharp turn and then fired a hopeful shot on his left foot.
Foti, who has been scoring for fun in recent weeks, deflected the ball past Carlos Saliadarre, and the striker?s bemused smile told the story.
On 33? minutes, Carle unleashed an effort destined for the top right hand corner, only to see United keeper Dylan Mitchell brilliantly tip it wide for a corner.
3? minutes later energetic midfielder Josh Ward tested Saliadarre from distance following a neat run to the edge of the 18-yard box.
The Spartans should have pegged a goal back on 42? minutes, but Jacob Ott lashed his effort inches past the far post with Mitchell beaten.
After the break Craig Midgley?s men lifted the tempo and were rewarded six minutes after oranges.
Daly ghosted in at the far post and his powerful downward header never looked like missing.
On the hour mark Midgley introduced Scott Balderson and the rumoured Sydney FC target quickly played himself into the contest.
He linked well with Matt Sim on countless occasions and was the architect behind all of Manly?s attacking raids.
Sim had a chance to seal the result on 85? minutes but Saliadarre was up to the task, comfortably dealing with a near post effort that had steam coming off it.
Balderson should have scored at the death but that man Saliadarre denied him with a brilliant reflex save.
Midgley was happy with the response from his troops after conceding early.
?Apart from that first goal, I felt we dominated the game,?? he said.
?We were fitter and moved the ball around well.
?I also thought young Josh Ward was superb for us in the middle of the park, and Michael Daly did a great job out of position at stopper due to all our injuries.
?I would have liked a few more goals but I will take the three points.?
His opposite Ben Dehaan felt the game was there for the taking.
?With the amount of chances we had in the first-half we should have put the game to bed,?? the Spartans boss said.
?We didn?t and we paid for it, big time.
?I felt a draw would have been a fair result, we will work on our finishing at training this week.?
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Adam Foti 20?, Michael Daly 51?)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Andre Carle 5?)
Saturday 11th August, 2012
Cromer Park
Referee: Ryan Shepheard
Assistant Referees: J Tesoriero and T Lee
Fourth Official: B Abraham
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 3.Roberto Hamad, 6.Michael Daly, 8.Danny Grant, 11.Matt Sim, 12.Colin Iley, 17.Todd Bamber, 19.James Cullingworth, 21.Leigh Egger, 23.Adam Foti (7.Scott Balderson 64?), 28.Josh Ward
Substitutes Not Used: 5.Marc Richards, 15.Jordy Edwards, 16.Mitch Lensink, 25.Tonu Liiband
Yellow Cards: Grant 37?
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown Spartans: 1.Carlos Saliadarre; 2.Michael Khoury, 3.Nathan Millgate, 5.Luke Boyd, (8.Djordje Degenek 72?) 9.Chris Bedzo, 10.Chris Gomez, 14.Jonathan Castano-Acero, (15.Louis Bozanic 61?) 17.Peter Hubbard, 22.Andre Carle, (11.Steven Veleski 67?) 27.Jacob Ott, 36.Tomislav Herceg
Substitutes Not Used: 7.Chris Gaitatzis, 40.Daniel Sadaka
Yellow Cards: Castano-Acero 32?, Bozanic 89?
Red Cards: Nil
