Manly and Blacktown inseparable in midweek battle

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Manly United and Blacktown City were forced to settle for a point each as they drew 1-1 on Wednesday night at Cromer Park. 

After an intense first half with plenty of opportunities falling both ways, the teams went into the sheds level.

The stalemate looked to have been broken with six minutes to play when Harry McCarthy dispatched a penalty for Manly. However, Blacktown fought back for a point through substitute Reuben Awaritefe in stoppage time.

Blacktown almost took the lead within 30 seconds as Tyren Burnie’s first-time right-sided cross found a flying Jak O’Brien, who nodded just wide of the left post.

Manly built some sustained pressure in the 13th minute when a McCarthy free-kick bounced narrowly past the left post.

In the aftermath of a corner moments later, McCarthy laid it Miguel Bauza on the right corner of the box, who almost snuck an effort inside the near post.

Twenty-five minutes in, Blacktown’s Grant Lynch lined up a slicing volley from outside the area that barely flew over the bar.

A big double chance fell the way of the hosts just after the half-hour mark.

Bilal Belkadi mazed his way into the left of the box before being denied at the near post by City goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast.

Then, on the follow-up, Bauza rattled the bar with his header.

Bauza had another chance 34 minutes in as he forced a sharp save from the left of the box at the near post from Prendergast.

Blacktown took the ball down the other end six minutes later, which saw Travis Major denied on the line by Zac Sfiligoi.

An exhilarating first half ended with the teams still unable to be separated despite chances falling both ways.

The home side made a fast start to the second period, and within the first minute, Belkadi’s effort from the right of the area dragged just past the left post.

City came even closer four minutes later as Adam Berry took aim from range on the left, seeing his rifled strike thunder off the bar.

The side were in again five minutes after this when Lynch’s volley from the edge of the area squirmed to Lachlan Campbell, who shovelled it well over.

Manly returned fire in the 63rd minute with Bauza making room for a shot from the left of the box.

The ball bounced awkwardly in front of Prendergast, but the City captain managed to bat it away.

Blacktown were presented with a guilt-edge opportunity two minutes later as a left-sided cross fell to a free Burnie at the back post, but the winger headed off-target.

It looked like the ball wasn’t going to find its way into the net at Cromer Park, but in the 86th minute, Manly were awarded a penalty kick.

McCarthy took responsibility and buried a well-struck effort into the bottom left corner, out of the grasp of Prendergast.

United sought to hold on to this slender advantage as the game ticked into stoppage time.

However, in the first minute of additional time, Blacktown snatched a late equaliser.

Lachlan Campbell got on the end of a ball hoisted in from the left, heading back across goal where Awaritefe was on hand to bundle home.

The hosts could have stolen the points even later as a persistent Belkadi pushed the ball back to Stefano Rossello on the left corner of the area; the substitute lashing a strike off the near post.

A game full of shots ended with the scores level at 1-1.

Match Stats

Manly United FC 1 (Harry McCarthy 86’ penalty)

Blacktown City FC 1 (Reuben Awaritefe 90+1’)

Wednesday 6 March 2024

Cromer Park, Cromer

Referee: Chris Hughes

Assistant Referees: Jackson Mackie and Rowan Fisher

Fourth Official: Thomas Dale

Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Kieren Paull (8. Joseph Fox 65’), 3. Zac Sfiligoi, 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Saxon Hillyer (26. Oliver Burden 89’), 9. Benjamin Koop (7. Peter Kekeris 78’), 10. Harry McCarthy (16. Zayne Ahluwalia 89’), 12. Miguel Bauza (39. Stefano Rossello 78’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 27. Corey Cronin, 45. Bilal Belkadi

Substitutes Not Used: 41. Montgomery Partington

Yellow Cards: Jesse Piriz 34’, Miguel Bauza 45’

Red Cards: Nil

Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry, 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien (17. Martin Fernandez 80’), 12. Tyren Burnie, 16. Ben Berry (9. Reuben Awaritefe 87’), 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 22. Jacob Maniti (14. Mitchell Mallia 46’), 23. Joey Gibbs

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Cayden Henderson, 42. Lachlan Henderson

Yellow Cards: Jak O’Brien 31’, Adam Berry 38’, Lachlan Campbell 72’, Reuben Awaritefe 90+4’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings: 

3 – Bilal Belkadi (MU)

2 – Tristan Prendergast (BC)

1 – Harry McCarthy (MU)

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_