Manly United flying high with home win over Spartans
Manly United FC are flying high in the IGA National Premier Leagues NSW Mens 1 competition following an entertaining 1-0 win against Blacktown Spartans on Good Friday at Cromer Park.
Brendan Cholakian was the difference, slotting home the winner after 76’ minutes.
Both teams were eager to showcase their attacking intent from the opening whistle, and it took the home side just 3’ minutes to carve out a decent early chance.
Sean Seavill played in Scott Balderson who in turn found Cholakian down the right flank.
The one time Liverpool FC academy winger produced a peach of a cross for Colin Iley, who saw his header flicked over the crossbar by Luke Turnbull.
In the 14’ minute the Spartans went close to taking the lead when Corey Biczo fashioned a half chance, but United goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell was his usual alert self, controlling the goal bound effort comfortably.
Seconds later Manly were denied what appeared to be a legitimate penalty claim after Balderson was bundled over in the area.
Referee Kurt Ams was having none of it, waving play on.
5’ minutes later Balderson fed Matt Sim down the left wing, but a poor first touch ensured the chance went begging.
Midway through the first-half Blacktown striker Wassim Hijazi should have scored from point-blank range, only to be denied brilliantly by Mitchell.
Balderson was the next to miss a sitter, skewing his effort wide of the target with 34’ minutes on the clock after he was fed an inch perfect ball from Sim.
Sim then went even closer on 41’ minutes when his spectacular half volley rattled the crossbar.
Just after the hour mark Spartans attacker Andre Carle jinked his way into the United penalty-area, but just as he was about to unleash Josh Lawson recovered well to block his stinging effort.
Moments later Biczo tried his luck from distance, but again saw no way past Mitchell.
The away side then looked to their bench for some fresh legs in the search of a winner, only to see Cholakian net what proved to be the defining moment.
A teasing Sim cross was only partially cleared by the retreating Spartans back four and Cholakian didn’t need a second invitation, forcing his effort home at the near post.
In the 84’ minute Sim should have ensured the three points would be Manly’s but his effort flashed past the far post.
It almost cost United at the death, but Mitchell was a man inspired, holding out two desperate efforts as the game went into injury-time.
Cholakian hailed the spirit his team showed from start to finish:
“I thought we deserved the win, we pressed them all game,’’ he said.
“I came to the club after Midg (coach Craig Midgley) gave me an opportunity and I want to repay that faith every chance I get.”
Blacktown Spartans coach Ben De Haan lamented what could have been:
“I can’t believe we got nothing from the game, we deserved at least a point,’’ he said.
“That’s football I guess, you need to take your chances – we didn’t and paid the price.”
Match Stats
Manly United FC 1 (Brendan Cholakian 76’)
Blacktown Spartans 0
Friday March 29th, 2013
Cromer Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant referees: Jim Manos and Alex Long
Fourth Official: Sebastian Brennan
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 7.Scott Balderson, (14.David Cain 87’) 12.Brendan Cholakian, (32. Michael McGinley 89’) 2.Leigh Egger, 4.Graeme Forbes, 6.Danny Grant, 3.Roberto Hamad, 5.Josh Lawson, 10.Colin Iley, 8.Sean Seavill, 11.Matt Sim
Yellow Cards: Forbes 52’, Balderson 86’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown Spartans: 20.Luke Turnbull; 2.Luke Austin, 25.Corey Biczo, (4.Damir Prodanovic 74’) 7.Andre Carle, 39.Luka Dukic, 17.Wassim Hijazi, 6.Greg Kondek, 3.Nathan Millgate, 11.Tyson Rhodes, 10.Bryan Soane, (22.Pasquale Polistina 71’) 5.Daniel Wilkinson (19.Simon Zahra 83’)
Yellow Cards: Prodanovic 81’, Dukic 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Dylan Mitchell (MUFC)
2 – Matt Sim (MUFC)
1 – Colin Iley (MUFC)
-By Andrew Prentice
