Fay brace puts Manly back on the Premiership hunt
Thomas Fay bagged a quick-fire brace as Manly United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Mount Druitt Rangers at Cromer Park on Friday night which also reignited the club’s Premiership hopes.
Both goals arrived in the space of two minutes to help Adam Griffiths’ men push for an all-important top five position as well as a shot at the Premiership with two rounds to play.
Looking to bounce back from a shock 6-1 defeat on home soil a week earlier at the hands of Blacktown City, it was Manly who started the brighter, creating a couple of chances just after the 15-minute mark.
Fay went close off the end of a drilled Jesse Piriz cross, before Seiya Kambayashi stung the palms of Robert Fanella from close range.
It would turn out to be the Mount Druitt shotstopper’s last intervention, as he was withdrawn due to a shoulder injury shortly after.
His replacement Jerome Narayan was drawn into action a few minutes later, tipping a powerful Fay strike to safety.
Manly were then dealt an injury blow of their own as experienced campaigner Matt Sim was substituted just prior to the half-hour mark.
But moments later it would turn out to be third time lucky for Fay, as he linked up with Bruno Mendes to nod home the opening goal of the game for Manly United with a well-taken header.
Two minutes later, the winger grabbed a quick-fire brace.
This time Kambayashi was the provider, slipping in the former Sydney FC academy product who made no mistake in crashing home his side’s second.
The visitors almost pulled one back with five to play in the first half, as Jack Stewart rose highest off a corner, only to see his header denied by the crossbar.
Fay so nearly then found his hat-trick in stoppage time but a superb Narayan save ensured the buffer would remain at two goals heading into half time.
Stewart Montgomery made two changes at the break and one nearly immediately paid dividends, with Bul Juach going close seconds into the second half.
The former Wollongong Wolves striker sent another one fizzing across the face in the 52nd minute, before Manly began to assert their dominance once again.
The home side created a handful of chances as the half wore on, with Finn Ashton notably going close with chances in both the 69th and 70th minute, but in the end the score would remain as it were halfway through: 2-0 to Manly.
Post-game, Manly head coach Adam Griffiths was pleased with the result but rued his side’s wastefulness in front of goal.
“I was very happy with the clean sheet, especially after last week,” he said.
“We worked hard on our principles and stayed connected which was fantastic, I’m disappointed we didn’t put them to the sword, to be honest.
“We had the chances to do so, which would have made it a very good performance.”
With Marconi being held to a 0-0 draw in Friday night’s other fixture down in Wollongong, the result takes Manly back within two points of the summit for now.
“It’s so close, it’s a good competition where every team is beatable and the players are looking forward to every game so now we focus on Sydney United away,” Griffiths stated.
“We focus on winning that game, then we’ll be one step closer to where we want to be.”
Match Stats
Manly United FC 2 (Fay 32’, 34’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0
Friday, 15th July, 2022
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples & Amber Morris
Fourth Official: Logan Jones
Manly United FC: 20. Jack Greenwood, 3. Jesse Piriz, 4. James Oates, 5. Thomas Fay, 7. Seiya Kambayashi, 8. Dominic Ferguson (6. James Georgaklis 55’), 11. Matthew Sim (15. Kristian Santich 29’), 12. Finn Ashton, 18. Lucas Rainbird, 19. Alen Aganovic, 22. Bruno Mendes (17. Daniel Fabrizio 84’)
Substitutes Not Used:, 24. Mitchell Mattison, 42. Hugo Mckay.14. Dejan Pandurevic
Yellow Cards: Piriz 91’
Red Card: Nil
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 20. Robert Fanella (1. Jerome Narayan 20’), 2. Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, 6. Louis Khoury (23. Leonard Abdo 71’), 7. Jack Stewart, 9. John Roberts, 11. Fumoto Kamada (15. Brayden Burr 45’), 17. Cooper Coskerie, 18. Olayinka Sunmola (19. Bul Juach 45’), 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva (41. Ivan Sunjic 81’), 26. Rocco Fragale
Substitutes Not Used: 15. Brayden Burr, 25. Mohammed Sabbouh,
Yellow Cards: Desilva 62’
Red Cards: Nil
-By National Premier League NSW Commentator & Reporter Chris Curulli (@ChrisCurulli)
