Manly United 1-1 Emerging Jets
Manly United drew 1-1 with Emerging Jets in the Sunday night NPL Women’s NSW game at Cromer Park.
Manly have rediscovered their groove late in the season, with an excellent run of results strengthening their hopes of a top four spot. Comparatively, the Jets came into this game off back-to-back wins against Football NSW Institute and Sydney University.
The Jets flew out of the blocks, and Zoe Daly flashed a shot wide in the third minute. Manly United responded on 13 minutes as Daisy Arrowmsmith broke clear, shooting straight at Jets goalkeeper Caoimhe Bray. Arrowsmith was then the creator for a chance midway through the first half, but Nicole Stuart fired over the crossbar.
The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute when Ariella Cabezas retrieved a loose ball and sent a pinpoint cross towards Arrowsmith, who controlled brilliantly and lashed the ball into the net.
Manly nearly doubled their lead on 47 minutes after Phoebe Gilbane charged into the penalty area and teed it up for Tegan Biasi, only for the flying forward to hit the post. Biasi had another opening six minutes later, with her strike bending away from the goal.
Emerging Jets had their best chance of the game in the 67th minute when Claire Adams picked out Marni Duggan’s run to the far post, however the Jets midfielder couldn’t convert from close range.
Heading into the final 20 minutes, Manly continued to push for a second. Stuart was denied by an excellent one-on-one save from Bray on 71 minutes, and a minute later Emily Minett dribbled around the Jets shotstopper, agonisingly hitting the post.
In second half stoppage time, Manly custodian Jodie Drever came up big, bravely diving at Duggan’s feet to smother her shot. However, there was nothing Drever could do on 94 minutes when an Alexis Collins cross dropped into the far top corner of the net, making the score 1-1.
Amazingly, there was still time for Manly to go close, and Bray was at her best to deny Cabezas in the sixth minute of stoppage time. From the resulting corner, Leah Burton floated the ball onto the crossbar, and the Jets scrambled the ball to safety.
