Manly United welcomes Stallions to the NPL with gritty victory
Manly United FC showed their Championship spirit fighting back twice to claim a 4-2 victory against Marconi Stallions on Saturday at Marconi Stadium.
In a highly entertaining first half, Marconi Stallions led twice.
Firstly through a Marko Jesic penalty then a sublime piece of skill from former Wanderer Matteo Poljak. Twice though, they were pegged back by Manly United as Brendan Cholakian and Travis Oughtred sent both teams to the break 2-2.
After the break Manly United underlined their club spirit to ‘never give up’ as they struck two decisive blows from Nikola Taneski and Kye Conna to finally get themselves off both off the bottom of the ladder and the duck egg.
Peter Tsekenis lamented some regrettable errors that cruelled the Stallions in the second half as they now have to pick themselves up for a mid-week catch up against APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC after having the weekend off last week due to the match being washed out.
Fresh from their Good Friday feasts, both teams came out of the blocks as veteran defender Michael Beauchamp tested Manly custodian Dylan Mitchell early with a header that he clutched gratefully.
The Stallions looking to continue their impressive start to life back in National Premier Leagues NSW as both Marko Jesic and Sean Rooney flung themselves into action, with shots that were safely dealt with by the United defence.
Jesic had a prime chance to open the scoring. A diagonal ball found him one-on-one with Mitchell but the striker whistled the effort wide of the right post as Marconi pressed hard for the opener.
It came in the 26th minute from the spot. Rooney was taken down in the box with a rough challenge which allowed Jesic to atone for his earlier miss, as the striker slotted the spot kick for 1-nil.
Although their advantage wouldn’t last for long. Six minutes later referee Arndt pointed to the spot again, this time for Manly United. Brendan Cholakian stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way for 1-1.
This pattern of tit-for-that football continued for the rest of the first half. The Stallions once again took the lead when Matteo Poljak cut well into the area then dinked home for 2-1.
Right on the half-time whistle though, Manly United again fought back. A corner pin-balled across the area before it bounded out to Travis Oughtred. The defender took a calm touch before putting it where the spiders live for a pulsating 2-2 score at the break.
After such a draining first half, both sides took their time in the second. The best chance fell to Jesic who followed up smartly a Beauchamp fizzed effort but the striker scooped it over.
Manly United pressed well in the second half and got their due reward on 67 minutes. Nikola Taneski pressured the defender into an errant pass before he superbly rounded Stallions keeper Nenad Vekic to complete the turnaround.
They added a cushion to their lead on 77 minutes when substitute and rising youngster Kye Conna was on the spot after a Sasa Macura cutback to prod home for a 4-2 lead.
Marconi tried to push men forward in hopes of keeping their undefeated start to the season alive but despite some late set piece action, Manly United held on for a priceless three points.
Talking after his sides loss Marconi Stallions boss Peter Tsekenis was annoyed at the Stallions inability to convert their start.
He also lamented a few naive mistakes that helped Manly United get back into the contest.
“What really annoyed me was conceding four goals,” Tsekenis said.
“I told the boys we have to learn from that and move on. APIA is a tough opponent and we have some banged up bodies but you have a squad for a reason.
“Credit to Manly United tonight. They came out desperate to get some points and played like they had nothing to lose. They got reward for that tonight.”
In the away dugout Paul Dee was beaming that Manly United had finally got on the board.
“It’s a good win. The boys have toiled hard in trying conditions early this season and probably deserved something in earlier games but they definitely deserved that one tonight,” Dee said.
“The club is trying to promote a culture that we are never dead in games, no matter what. We showed that fighting spirit tonight. In each game we haven’t thrown in the towel but to do that against a tough opponent is pleasing.”
Match Stats
Marconi Stallions 2 (Jesic ’28 and Poljak ’37)
Manly United FC 4 (Cholakian ’32, Oughtred ’45, Taneski ’67 and Conna ’77)
Saturday 31st March 2018
Marconi Stadium
Referee: A Arndt
Assistant Referee: J Bell, D Stack
Fourth Official: S Perticarini
Marconi Stallions: 1. VEKIC Nenad, 4. DANASKOS Troy(2. CHENG ’68), 5. BEAUCHAMP Michael, 6. OCONNELL Sean, 8. ROONEY Sean(25. PONCE FARIAS ’80), 10. JESIC Marko, 14. PELEKANOS Peter, 15. POLJAK Matteo, 18. TRIANTIS Peter(9. WEBB ’59), 22. VELLA Brandon and 23. NUNES Christopher
Substitutes not used: 16. LO Martin and 21. SEKUTKOSKI Kristian
Yellow cards: Danaskos ’49
Red cards: nil
Manly United FC: 2. PAULL Kieran(25. CONNA KYE ’55), 3. LOBB Jamie, 4. OUGHTRED Travis, 6. FERGUSON Dominic, 7. SAMA Marco(14. ROOKE ’62), 8. MACURA Sasa(MACALLISTER ’81), 10. CHOLAKIAN Brendan, 11. TANESKI Nikola, 12. EGGER Leigh, 23. ALESSI Daniel and 30. MITCHELL Dylan
Subs not used: 17. STENSNESS Gianni and 20. CATLIN Shaun
Yellow cards: Alessi ’48, Cholakian ’85 and Macura ’79
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings
3 – Nikola Taneski (MUFC)
2 – Brendan Cholakian (MUFC)
1 – Matteo Poljak (MS)
-By National Premier Leagues Reporter Justin Davies