IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s Round 12 Review

Round 12 of the IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s saw Rockdale City retain their position at the top of the table with a good win at Blacktown City.
In the Match of the Round, Manly United upset Sydney United 58 FC on a wet Sunday. Up the road, Marconi’s match with Blacktown Spartans was postponed due to the inclement weather.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Sydney United 58 FC 0-1 Manly United FC, at Sydney United Sports Centre
It rained, it poured; only one goal was scored.

It was that kind of day at the grand opening of the new Sydney United Sports Centre.

In the end it was an excellent second half performance from Manly United and a superb diving header from Tommy Morrisey that saw Manly United take a deserved three points.

For Sydney United 58, it is not the slip up but the performance that will be of most disappointment, as they failed spark in the second 45′ minutes, despite having over half an hour to chase the game.

Manly United were able to call upon the services of Michael McGinley, so prolific in the Grade 20s last season as they made the Grand Final. In tandem with Dylan Whitlock and Morrisey, it looked a potent combination.

Both sides started slowly as they struggled to get to grips with the conditions. Driving rain and howling wind made life terribly uncomfortable for players and spectators alike.

It wasn’t until 21′ minutes into the opening half that a shot was fired in anger, Chris Zuvela firing a left footed shot from range that was well saved by Tonu Liiband.

Manly United’s most likely, again, was Morrisey and the forward showed some excellent touches during a trying first half. McGinley was getting frustrated at his lack of opportunities though, as Sydney United 58 started to get on top mid-way through the first period.

Luke Sullivan was lucky to get away with a lax piece of defending in the 34′ minute, when he was dispossessed by David Semialjac. The Sydney United 58 captain hesitated and the chance went begging.

Manly United rallied as the first half came to a close.

Nathan Sim lashed 39′ minute shot shot over after a McGinley free kick caused a scramble in the Sydney United 58 area and Jack Green showed a delightful piece of skill a minute later, turning his marker before shooting narrowly wide.

The second half saw both sides regroup and it was a far more open affair than the first 45′ minutes, though Manly United was well and truly in the ascendancy.

Green slalomed his way through the Sydney United 58 defence only to be denied by a block from keeper Marko Bozic.

It was a signal of Manly United’s renewed attacking vigour and when their goal came it was beautifully constructed, with a finish to match from Morrisey.

Nathan Sim delivered an inch perfect cross from the right, and there was Morrisey, flying through the air to finish with a diving header reminiscent of Peter Osgood in the 1970 FA Cup Final replay.

It was a finish of precision and timing and there will be few better this season.

Manly United was right on top and with Green fast becoming the game’s biggest influence, the onus was on Sydney United 58 to make a difference.

Nathan Duval replaced Drazen Vucer as coach Ante Moric tried to change the flow of the game but Manly United didn’t just stand firm.

They played outstanding football, with Green at the heart of everything and Sim throwing himself into every tackle.

Morrisey’s goal though, was worthy of winning any game and so it proved here.

Many United coach Nick Tomaino was understandably impressed with the way his side performed.

"It was an important win in tough conditions," Tomaino said.

"We’ve had a tough week, so it was good.

"The defence is getting better. Most of the defenders are quite young, so we’re trying to get them to play the right way and play out.

"We’ve been caught a few times but today was good, they showed a fair bit of control.

"It’s given us a bit more stability at the back, now that they’ve got that extra bit of confidence.

On the outstanding Morrisey, Tomaino said:

"Tommy scored a really nice goal, one of our best this season.

"He’s our one and only striker at the moment.

"We’d love to have another one but at the moment, he’s it. On his day he’s a great striker; he can be quite formidable" Tomaino said.

Sydney United 58 coach Ante Moric was disappointed with the performance of the home side.

"The first half, I thought we played well," he said.

"But to be truthful, I can’t tell you what happened in the second half.

"I don’t know why it happened or what it was, but I have to give credit to Manly United, they played a good game.

"Their striker (Morrisey) is a very good player, I told him so afterwards, he played very well.

"I’m not disappointed that we lost, I’m disappointed with the way we played," Moric said.
Match Stats

Sydney United 58 FC 0

Manly United FC 1 (Tommy Morrisey 54′)
Sunday 2nd June, 2013

Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Zac Naylor

Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Nathan Roberts
Sydney United 58 FC: 1.Marko Bozic, 36.Jacob Bandur, 28.Nedim Basic, 3.Chris Denkov, 25.Michajlo Jonjic, 24.Isaac Savor, 30.David Semialjac (C), 38.David Stojic, 34.Drazen Vucer (35.Nathan Duval 69′), 33.Stephen Vukovic, 17.Chris Zuvela

Substitutes Not Used: 37.Stefan Sacilotto, 26.James Togias, 27.Marko Vukovic, 31.Kane Wallace (GK),
Yellow Cards: 24.Isaac Savor 26′, 25.Michajlo Jonjic 63′, 17.Chris Zuvela 65′, 38.David Stojic 70′
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 20.Tonu Liiband, 27.Jamie Craig, 33.Luke Sullivan, 28.Robert Carollo, 26.Nathan Sim, 38.Dylan Whitlock (37.Adin Scalone 80′), 24.Tommy Morrisey (4.Oliver Green 89′), 39.Jack Park, 31.Henry Gallagher (29.Max Hastings 46′), 32.Michael McGinley (36.Patrick Weir 76′), 30.Jack Green

Substitutes Not Used: 35.Marcus Zarantonello
Yellow Cards: 27.Jamie Craig 60′
Red Cards: Nil
ROUND 12 REVIEW
SATURDAY
Central Coast Mariners Academy 1-2 Sydney Olympic FC, at Pluim Park
CCM Academy went down 2-1 at home to Sydney Olympic FC in a hard-fought contest.

Connor Wilkinson scored for the home side but it wasn’t enough to bag the three points.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-2 APIA Leichhardt Tigers, at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Bonnyrigg White Eagles went down at home to APIA Leichhardt on Saturday evening.

Nimed Homeh scored for Paul De Lucca’s side, but having gone in to the break level at 1-1, they couldn’t find a goal in the second half.

Joshua Symons and Matthew Castelnuovo scored for Rod Williams’s APIA.

Blacktown City FC 1-2 Rockdale City Suns, at Lily Homes Stadium
Blacktown City and Rockdale City Suns played out an entertaining 90 minutes at Lily Homes, but it was top of the table Rockdale City who prevailed.

Alex Arbello scored for the home side, but goals for Hussein Jasli and Idriss Elhafianne was enough to see the league leaders home.

Sutherland Sharks 2-2 South Coast Wolves, at Seymour Shaw Park
Sutherland Sharks and South Coast Wolves shared four goals at Seymour Shaw Park.

Dylan Caton’s brace saw Sutherland take a 2-0 lead but they threw it away as Josh Bingham and Dusan Kolonja struck to bag a point for South Coast.

Marconi Stallions vs Blacktown Spartans at Marconi Stadium was washed out.
– By Matthew Connellan