Manly United 1-2 Northern Tigers
Manly United were defeated 2-1 by neighbours Northern Tigers at Cromer Park on Sunday evening.
Both teams were looking to get back to winning ways after recent losses, making this game of vital importance as the race for finals places heats up in the second half of the season.
Manly had an early chance to take the lead after Emily Minett stole possession, with her shot going straight at Tigers shotstopper Susanna Behne-Smith. The visitors responded immediately and Charlotte Mortlock’s smart cutback found Olivia Cartwright, who drew a brilliant save from Nicole Simonsen. Manly’s goalkeeper produced more heroics in the 11th minute, flying through the air to deny Lily McMahon.
The opener arrived on the quarter hour via an unfortunate miskick from Tigers defender Izzy Keech after Manly flyer Nicole Stuart crossed into the six yard box, and the hosts had a lead to reflect their dominance of the early exchanges.
Four minutes later, a neat one-two played by Siahn Bozanic and Phoebe Gilbane led to Bozanic whipping a cross into the mixer, and Emily Minett fired over the crossbar.
United went close to a second goal again on 29 minutes when a lunging tackle from Alexia Karrys-Stahl took the ball from Behne-Smith, but her inventive backheel went wide.
Near the end of the first half, Northern Tigers found an equaliser, with Jade McAtamney holding off Manly defenders at a corner to knocking the ball in from point blank range.
On 57 minutes, Mortlock played a pinpoint crossfield pass for Isabel Gomez, but the Tigers midfielder was off balance while shooting and the goal wasn’t troubled.
Karrys-Stahl went agonisingly close to restoring Manly’s lead in the 68th minute, as her shot from long range rebounded off the post, off Behne-Smith and somehow away to safety.
It was Minett’s turn to go for goal on 74 minutes after being teed up by Tegan Biasi, however her shot would fly past the post. A couple of minutes later, a desperate lunge from Stuart wasn’t enough to apply the finishing touch to a brilliant cross from Daisy Arrowsmith.
Instead, the decisive play went the way of Northern Tigers. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation time, Beth Bernardi’s precision through ball found Gomez, who kept her cool to score the winner and secure three precious points for the Northern Suburbs side.
By Football NSW
