Manly United pay late penalty against Reds

An 87’ minute penalty from Luka Glavas engineered a hard fought 1-0 win for Sydney United 58 FC against Manly United FC at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.
Heading into the IGA NSW National Premier Leagues Mens 1 round one clash, few expected the home side to cause Mark Rudan’s men any problems.
But it was Manly who started better, with Matt Sim the first player to register a shot on goal in the 9’ minute.
Exciting winger Brendan Cholakian, who impressed from start to finish on the right flank, drew the foul.
Sim picked his spot from 25-yards but goalkeeper Liam Reddy was up to the task, parrying the ball out for a corner.
3’ minutes later Sydney United 58 FC recruit Yuchi Yamauchi earnt his side a corner which was hacked to safety by the Manly defence.
Cholakian then presented Sean Seavill with a difficult chance moments later, but the midfielder flashed his effort wide of the far post.
Moments later Scott Balderson was free on goal after being released by Cholakian but a poor first touch saw Reddy gobble up the loose ball.
On the 20’ minute mark Sydney United 58 FC had the chance to open the scoring from a free-kick but Dylan Mitchell had no problems dealing with Chris Triantis’ tame effort.
Referee Adam Susz showed both sets of players he was in no mood to tolerate ill-discipline, with Balderson and Seavill copping cautions in the space of 60’’ seconds on 35’ minutes.
5’ minutes before oranges Triantis had an effort well saved by Mitchell and seconds before the break Manly’s gloveman collected a teasing cross at the second attempt from Yamauchi with Glavas ready to pounce on the half chance.
On 51’ minutes Triantis rattled the crossbar, and following a rasping drive from Sim on 54’ minutes which Reddy handled with ease, Ante Tomic side footed wide of the target after Mitchell hesitated to clear a loose ball.
Seconds later Mitchell again denied Tomic, with the shot stopper spreading himself on the edge of the area, leaving the former Melbourne Heart utility shaking his head with dismay.
Balderson went close with a header on 68’ minutes following a pinpoint cross from Cholakian and then Sydney United FC substitute Robbie Mileski skewed a difficult chance inches wide with 15’ minutes remaining.
Just as the game looked destined to finish scoreless, Manly skipper Graeme Forbes denied Glavas with a copybook tackle in the area on 84’ minutes, which many of the vocal travelling supporters from Edensor Park felt should have been a penalty.
They got their wish 3’ minutes when a rash tackle inside the area saw Susz award a spot kick from 12-yards.
Glavas, who in recent seasons has scored countless goals against Manly, was the hero again, holding his nerve to break the deadlock.
In the 92’ minute Colin Iley almost jagged Manly a well-deserved point but Reddy denied him with a brilliant reaction save to ensure the Reds opened their 2013 campaign with a victory.
Sydney United 58 FC coach Mark Rudan was delighted with the first up performance:
“Cromer Park is never an easy place to come and pick up points,’’ he said.
“I was confident we could score at any moment, we just had to stick to the task.
“Our shape was good, we kept the ball well and kept asking questions.
“Signs are good, but it is a long season.”
His opposite Craig Midgley was understandably shattered:
“We matched them in all departments but couldn’t score,’’ he said.
“I was happy with the effort, on another day we could have nicked a result but it wasn’t to be.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Luka Glavas 87’ (pen) )
Manly United FC 0
Sunday March 17, 2013
Cromer Park
Referee: Adam Susz
Assistant Referees: Michelle Allen and Thomas Lee
Fourth Official: Brett Lorimer
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 2.Leigh Egger, 3.Roberto Hamad, 4.Graeme Forbes, 5.Josh Lawson, 7.Scott Balderson, (13.Jordy Edwards 78’) 8.Sean Seavill, 10.Colin Iley, 11.Matt Sim, 12.Brendan Cholakian, 16.Josh Ward
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Danny Grant, 14.David Cain, 20.Tonu Liiband, 25.Dom Ferguson
Yellow Cards: Forbes 19’, Balderson 28’, Sim 34’, Seavill 35’
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 29.Liam Reddy; 11.Luka Glavas, 12.Tomislav Herceg, 5.Callum O’Connell, 2.Mitchell Speer, 6.Mitch Stamatellis, 15.Anthony Tomelic, 8.Yuichi Yamauchi, (22.Daniel Barac 85’)10.Chris Triantis, (7.Mirjan Pavlovic 85’) 18.Glen Trifiro, 23.Ante Tomic (9.Robert Mileski 67’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Marko Bozic, 16.Stephan Paric
Yellow Cards: Glavas 92’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Liam Reddy (SU)
2 – Brendan Cholakian (MUFC)
1 – Graeme Forbes (MUFC)
-By Andrew Prentice