Points shared at Cromer Park
Manly United played out a scoreless 0-0 draw against a spirited Sydney FC outfit in Round 4 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition played at Cromer Park on Friday evening.
It was a balmy last-day of summer evening on the Northern Beaches as conditions certainly took their toll on both sides and as such the first real opportunity of the game only arrived in the 20th minute and it was a wonderful chance for Sydney FC.
A long through ball found Northern Beaches local Mathias Macallister on the edge of the box and he created some beautiful space before firing on target, but he was thwarted by a superb save from Levi Kaye who is always one of the best custodians in the business. However, the ball rebounded back into the field of play and Joe Lacey tried a spectacular overhead kick but misconnected and the great chance went begging.
A few minutes later midway through the first half the young Sydney FC side was at it again through Macallister but once again his on-target shot couldn’t beat Kaye between the sticks.
Manly United had to wait until the 45th minute, right at the end of the first half, to try their luck when a precise Lucas Meek cross from the right was met by a Matthew O’Donoghue header but in the end Sydney FC goalkeeper Jacob Cremen-Cowan was alert enough to save and both sides then trudged off into the sheds for a well-deserved break at half time and a cool drink.
In the second half the first goal scoring chance belonged to Sydney FC in the 67th minute when Lacey, with a brilliant effort from outside the box, brought out the best in ‘keeper Kaye who turned his shot over the crossbar for a corner.
At this stage Manly United FC coach, the former A-League star Patrick Zwaanswijk, had seen enough to make four changes to his team in the 68th minute in an attempt to reshuffle the playing deck of cards. Fresh legs on a hot night was the theoretical point as the game desperately required a breakthrough that in the end didn’t eventuate.
The game ebbed and flowed right until the final whistle with both sides making some noise but real goal-scoring chances were few and far between as both sides struggled in the hot, humid conditions.
A long ball in the 90th minute by Benjamin Koop was at least at attempt to spark a goal by Manly United FC but in the end the ball dwindled wide of the mark and out for a goal-kick in what really summed up the night for both sides and the loyal fans at Cromer Park.
Both sides in the end got the point in what was probably the fairest outcome for such a tight contest.
For Sydney FC it was at least their second game where they achieved points, in what was their first draw of the season in four rounds so far. A win and two losses add to their tally of this draw and coach Jimmy Van Weeren will be at least partially satisfied given the plethora of other teams on the ladder in their vicinity after a month of regular season football. The young Sky Blues give an age advantage to other teams and it’s a credit to their young, talented playing group that they compete so well at such a high level.
Manly United FC on the other hand might regret the loss of two points given the bonus of the home ground in what was technically Sydney FC’s home match. Patrick Zwaanswijk’s side too have only secured one win in four but have an extra draw compared to Sydney FC and, as such, an extra point on the ladder. However, given the tightness of the competition and the length of the season it would be hard to infer much from this encounter for both sides except to say that there is a real traffic jam of teams, including both Manly United FC and Sydney FC, in the mid table range.
Match Stats
SYDNEY FC: 0
MANLY UNITED FC: 0
Friday 28th February 2025
Cromer Park
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant referees: Aaron Bloch, Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Travis Griffith
SYDNEY FC: 1. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 4. Joseph Calusic, 5. Corey Cronin, 6. Tyler Williams, 9. Mathias Macallister, 10. Taye Hedley (11. Marin France 62’), 21. Zachary De Jesus (22. Will Kennedy 46’), 25. Alen Harbas, 26. Dylan Rose, 27. Lachlan Middleton, 29. Joe Lacey (2. Noah Mathie 75’).
Substitutes not used: 12. Alex Zaverdinos, 14. Jared Middleton, 15. Samuel Lancaster
Yellow Card: Rose 89
Red Cards: Nil
MANLY UNITED FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue (6. Bilal Bekaki 67’), 4. Jesse Piriz, 10. Harry McCarthy (39. Samuel Griffith), 11. Lucas Meek, 13, Taiga Kawano (9. Benjamin Koop), 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Darcy Burgess (16. Ryan Devine 67’), 26. Harry Van Der Saag, 28. Jasper Chapman (17. Farah Koko 67’).
Substitutes not used: 21. Anthony Carreras
Yellow Cards: McCarthy 44’, Devine 78’, Van Der Saag 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Mathias Macallister (SFC)
2 – Lucas Meek (MU)
1 – Joe Lacey (SFC)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
