Late Bandiera strike earns Blacktown City precious point

A Jackson Bandiera strike deep into added time has helped Blacktown City snatch a thrilling late equaliser in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Manly United at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday.

It was a hard-fought battle between the two teams for the entirety of the match, but Bandiera’s last-gasp equaliser denied a shock Manly win on the road.

The wonder goal was the second of the day from Bandiera and cancelled out goals from Manly United’s youngster Ben Gibson and Dejan Pandurevic.

The result keeps Blacktown in second place on the competition ladder only a point behind leaders Sydney United 58, While Manly’s point means they finish the round in fifth.

Manly was the first to make their mark on the match, scoring halfway through the first stanza through Gibson.

The young gun received the ball from a Luka Kmet intercept in the 23rd minute, before sending an attempt towards the goal.

Blacktown City keeper Tristan Prendergast was well positioned to deny, however, Gibson’s shot bounced over the custodian and past Ben Berry, who was desperately trying to defend the line.

Manly United enjoyed the lead at the half-time break, but Blacktown came out with a renewed energy in the second half as they attempted to fight their way back into the game.

Substitute Sean Rooney combined with Bandiera in the 66th minute to score the first equaliser for the home side.

Rooney received the ball inside the 18-yard box and flicked a header onto Bandiera, who took the strike with his left foot and sent it out of reach of Manly United keeper, Samuel Benton.

Blacktown City looked poised to take the lead just moments later as their front lined combined to create a number of chances which had fans in the stands holding their breath as Manly United continued to deny.

Charles Mendy made an attacking run for the home side, cutting a ball across to Jak O’Brien, who fired a strike on target which was well-defended by Benton.

Benton’s deflection landed at the chest of Suleyman Bangura, who took a shot that was clinically deflected by Kieren Paull.

Paull’s deflection was collected by Mendy, who also let off a shot, which was again denied by Paull.

Manly United earned a penalty in the 72nd minute, despite an outraged Blacktown City squad urging that Campbell’s tackle inside the box was clean.

Dejan Pandurevic stepped up to the spot for the visitors and sent Prendergast in the wrong direction as his ball cleanly made its way over the line and into the netting to take back the lead for Manly United.

Blacktown continued to mount pressure until the dying stages of the match and their efforts finally paid off in the final moments of extra time.

Jackson Bandiera sent a brilliant cross blazing across the goalmouth in the 5th minute of extra time, which was knocked over the line by Manly’s defensive line to finish the match 2-2.

Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was pleased with his team’s effort but thought they could have gotten more than one point from the match.

“To score in the last second of the game basically was great to get a point,” he said.

“I think we created enough chances to maybe get a little bit more than we did.

“At the end of the day they’re a good side, he’s [Adam Griffiths] got them doing well. We’ll take the point and move on.

“It was nice to see Rooney out having a gallop and Mario Shabow again and hopefully Major might be back.

“If we can get all those guys back on deck and get them all healthy…who knows what might happen.”

Manly United coach Adam Griffiths was disappointed his side didn’t “put the game to bed” when they had the opportunity to.

“They’re a team that knows their game plan and they’re very dangerous when they put a lot of pressure on, so I felt that at times we played some good football and we had some good attacking moments, we just need to be more clinical,” he explained.

“We could have put that game to bed, even though they still had some chances…we take our chances when we’re on top and we finish that game.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 2 (Jackson Bandiera 66’, 90+5’)

Manly United FC 2 (Ben Gibson 23’, Dejan Pandurevic 72’ (pen))

Sunday 30th May 2021

Lily Holmes Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: H. Jomaa

Assistant Referees: C. Wright and M. Staples

Fourth Official: H. Al-Nakeeb

Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Matthew Lewis (10. Mario Shabow 74’), 8. Jak O’Brien (22. Carlos De Oliveira 74’), 11. Rhett Desilva (9. Sean Rooney 56’), 16. Ben Berry (29. Nicholas O’Brien 56’), 18. Suleyman Bangura (34. Sebastian Hernandez), 19. Adam Berry, 21. Charles Mendy, 24. Jackson Bandiera

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Dylan Niski

Yellow Cards: Grant Lynch 33’, Matthew Lewis 73’

Red Cards: Nil

Manly United FC: 2. Kieren Paull, 3. James Georgaklis (40. Mitchell Mattison 81’), 4. James Oates, 10. Richard Cardozo, 12. Luka Kmet (13. Scott Balderson), 14. Dejan Pandurevic, 15. Jesse Piriz, 16. Seiya Kambayashi, 19. Samuel Benton, 24. Ashton Finn (5. Sam Gallagher), 31. Ben Gibson

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jacob Madden, 18. Lucas Rainbird, 23. Jordan Devries,

Yellow Cards: James Oates 46’, Luka Kmet 85’

Red Cards: Nil

*Player Ratings have now been hidden 

-By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Madeline Riley (@madelineriley23)