Classy Manly too strong for Stallions
A clinical Manly United FC condemned 2012 NSW National Premier Leagues IGA Mens 1 champions Marconi Stallions to their second defeat in as many matches with a 3-0 win at Marconi Stadium on Sunday.
Two fantastically struck goals by Sean Seavill and a header by Colin Iley set up the win for United leaving Marconi reeling.
Manly United began the game at a blistering pace shocking Marconi in the 3’ minute of play when they took the lead. After Iley chased down a long ball by captain Graeme Forbes, Marconi defender Grant Lynch headed the ball directly to Seavill who took a touch before sending a 20-yard dipping volley into the net to give his side the 1-0 lead.
The home side were again in shock 2’ minutes later when Iley caught the defence napping, getting his head onto a cross to double Manly United’s lead.
Marconi tried to get back into the game by controlling possession and had their first chance on goal in the 12’ minute. Left winger Tadgh Purcell beat Leigh Egger before running down the byline and sending a low cross into the 6-yard box to Sean O’Connell, only for the midfielder to be thwarted by a last ditch tackle by Roberto Hamad.
Manly United coach Craig Midgley switched wide men Brendan Cholakian and Matthew Sim in the 22’ minute and it almost paid immediate dividends.
Sim got around Lynch on the right easily before sending a deft cross goal wards only for Chronopoulos to parry the ball to the oncoming Balderson before a defender got back to clear the ball.
The home side had their best chance of the first half in the 28’ minute when Anthony Proia beat the offside trap to get on the end of a lovely through ball by Tadgh Purcell only for the former to spray his shot over the bar.
2’ minutes later and Sim had his second opportunity on goal. A succession of quick fire passes between Scott Balderson and Josh Ward released Sim only to see his shot directed straight to Chronopoulos.
In the 33’ minute Manly could have extended their lead again as Roberto Hamad played a one-two with Cholakian before Hamad saw his shot canon off the post and out for a goal kick.
With 5’ minutes remaining before half-time, Stallions captain Nahuel Arrarte tried to bring his side back into the game but saw his goal bound shot blocked by Josh Lawson.
The Stallions started the second-half on the front foot and could have gotten one back in the 49’ minute. Purcell again troubled the United defence, sending a cross in which was poorly cleared by Lawson with Arrarte’s impending shot being touched over the bar.
Manly goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell almost embarrassed himself in the 52’ minute with his attempted clearance ricocheting off Milorad Simonovic but luckily bouncing wide of the goal.
The visitors quickly took control of the match as Cholokian tested Chronopoulos 3’ minutes later. After a quick throw from the winger, Iley held the ball up before laying it off for Cholakian who could only shoot straight at the keeper.
In the 59’ minute Manly had another chance to score but Lawson could only head the ball over the bar from a free-kick.
The away side didn’t have to wait long to extend their lead and did so in the 65’ minute. As Cholakian pressed the Marconi defence he won the ball and passed to a free Seavill who unleashed a low drive hitting the post and rolling into the net to make it 3-0.
Stallions coach Jean Paul De Marigny rolled the dice and made his three changes by the 70’ minute moving to three defenders in the hope of getting something from the match.
The move almost worked 5’ minutes later but substitute Mark Cindric could not control his first time volley seeing it sail well over the crossbar.
As the game came to a close Marconi tried to get back into the game but the sturdy defence of Manly could not be broke.
Following the match Manly United coach Craig Midgley said he was extremely pleased with his team’s all-round performance:
“It was a dream start to be fair,’’ he said.
“An absolute bomb from Sean and last week we did a lot of good stuff but I didn’t think we did enough in the box so for Colin to score with a header in the box it makes the hard work worthwhile.
“You have to give credit to Marconi I know they had a few players out this week but it is still a tough place to come.
“But in tough conditions the tempo and the way we passed the ball I was very pleased.”
In the home dressing room Marconi coach Jean Paul De Marigny admitted his team were struggling with so many players out injured:
“Basically we are a little bit vulnerable at the moment,’’ he said.
“We’ve got a lot of young ones playing in a lot of crucial positions.
“The strength and speed is a little bit too much for them at the moment. But they are learning off it.
“(Manly) took two early goals and that was a setback for us
“We will just hang in there and wait for our eight players to come back and we’ll be fine.’’
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 0
Manly United FC 3 (Seavill 3’, 65’, Iley 5’)
Sunday March 24th, 2013
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Kevin Peddie
Assistant Referees: Alec Mouwad and Jim Manos
Fourth Official: Gareth Williams
Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 10.Milorad Simonovic, 26.Nahuel Arrarte (C), 42.Daniel Collins, 8.Jared Lum, 28.Grant Lynch (29.Steven Drewery 66’), 7.Sean O’Connell, 17.Tadgh Purcell, 27.Tom Whiteside (18.Jake McGing 70’), 19.Damien Travis, 12.Anthony Proia (16.Mark Cindric 63’)
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Stefan Giglio (gk), 4.Umut Tokdogan,
Yellow Cards: Damien Travis 19’
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 7.Scott Balderson, 12.Brendan Cholakian, 2.Leigh Egger, 4.Graeme Forbes (C), 3.Roberto Hamad, 10.Colin Iley, 5.Josh Lawson, 8.Sean Seavill, 11.Matthew Sim (13.Jordan Edwards 72’), 16.Josh Ward (6.Daniel Grant 62’)
Substitutes Not Used: 14.David Cain, 6.Daniel Grant, 20.Tonu Liiband, 32.Michael McGingley
Yellow Cards: Josh Lawson 77’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Sean Seavill (MUFC)
2 – Colin Iley (MUFC)
1 – Brendan Cholakian (MUFC)
-By Chris Georges
