Manly United 1-2 APIA Leichhardt
Despite a strong push for a late equaliser, Manly United would go down 2-1 to APIA Leichhardt in Sunday night’s NPL Women’s NSW clash at Cromer Park.
Entering this fixture after a tough run of form will no doubt have left Manly focused on delivering a positive performance against APIA. However, the away side were buoyed by the prospect of taking on a wounded Manly side that had been knocked off the top of ladder in recent weeks.
Manly started strongly, with Alexia Karrys-Stahl denied by a Sally James reflex save, while Daisy Arrowsmith shot over after pouncing on a loose ball. Arrowsmith went even closer just before the half hour mark, hitting the post from outside the penalty area.
However, it would be APIA who would take the ascendancy late in the first half. Following a terrific run and superb cross delivered by Charlotte Lancaster to the back post, an onrushing Te Reremoana Walker buried the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 to APIA in the 40th minute.
Crofts then earned a goal of her own in the second half after the ball was won strongly in midfield, leading to APIA’s reliable no. 11 showing complete assurance in putting the ball away for a 2-0 lead.
Manly would give APIA some late strife when in the 86th minute Karrys-Stahl fashioned a sublime low free kick finish into the bottom left corner of the net.
More Karrys-Stahl persistence in stoppage time led to Manly’s no. 10 outmuscling multiple defenders and getting a shot away, but James saved comfortably. The match would conclude 2-1 in favour of the visitors.
By Football NSW