Meek mania curtails Blacktown City
Manly United have snapped a four-game losing streak courtesy of a thrilling 3-2 victory over Blacktown City.
Cromer Park witnessed plenty of twists and turns as the fans lucky enough to be there saw a quality match as both sides went at it.
Blacktown City started their fight to confirm its top six spot by placing the hosts under immediate pressure only two-minutes in as Danny Choi unleashed a shot at Levi Kaye who pushed the ball out of play.
The visitors kept the chances flowing and, in the 9th and 14th minute, Matthew O’Donoghue saved a potential goal with his back, then Aaron O’Driscoll similarly thwarted Blacktown’s vicious attempt.
Manly began to display more poise soon after as Ben Koop was beaten by half a second to the ball by rival goalkeeper Cayden Henderson as he was raring through on goals in the 25th minute.
Lucas Meek then witnessed his low-driving shot scooped away by Henderson as his side were slowly but surely gaining some ascendency.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to gain the break through goal when Koop finished off a perfect Harry Van Der Saag through ball in the 29th minute to make it 1-0.
Koop classily locked down his second strike in the 33rd minute after a brilliant team run that began just outside of the halfway line ended with him finishing virtually into an empty net.
The visitors had a golden opportunity to get back into the match after Mark Crittenden’s men earned themselves a penalty in the 38th minute. Up stepped up Travis Major but his spot kick was expertly saved by Levi Kaye as he kept his side in the lead.
Blacktown City defender Lachlan Campbell began the second half perfectly as he managed to dispossess a bounding Farah Koko off the ball, despite Campbell moving backwards close to goals.
It was then game on in the 64th minute when a thumping Travis Major header landed into the bottom corner and halved the deficit. It was redemption for Major who had earlier missed from the spot.
The visitors strike opened the match-up wide open. That was evident in the 70th minute when a perfect Koko pass into the box was cleared away.
Martin Fernandez proceeded to misfire his shot down the other end of the field five-minutes later, missing what looked like a certain goal at his mercy.
Fernandez emphatically made up for his miss as in the 81st minute he produced a whirlwind strike to even the game up. Starting his run from virtually the sideline, he powerfully ran all the way into Manly’s box before firing home into the top corner past Kaye.
The game was far from over though as Lucas Meek chipped home a delicious winner over Henderson in the 88th minute much to the delight of the home crowd.
The Manly striker timed his run perfectly to get the job done and it was game set and match as he and the Manly boys sent Blacktown City home empty handed.
Suffice to say Lucas Meek was elated post- game.
“I’m so proud of this team.
“The last couple of weeks haven’t gone our way and we’ve been finding our identity again.
“But tonight was a complete performance. We went 2-0 up and even when Blacktown equalised, we didn’t waiver. I’m just so happy for the boys.
“We are a group that doesn’t give up and we turn up to training every single day despite some off the stuff that’s happened.
“James Snedden has been amazing and it’s so great to get him his first win as head coach.
“For my goal I’m very content with it because as striker you are always partial to a chip. The ball bounced favourably for me and my instincts kicked in.”
Match Stats
Manly United 3 (Ben Koop 29’, 33’, Lucas Meek 88’)
Blacktown City 2 (Travis Major 64’, Martin Fernandez 81’)
Saturday 11 July 2025
Cromer Park
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Mia Velarde
Fourth Official: Isabella Mossin
Manly United: 1.Levi Kaye, 2.Aaron O’Driscoll, 3.Matthew O’Donoghue, 4.Jesse Piriz, 8.Stefano Rossello, 9.Benjamin Koop, (10.Harry McCarthy 61’), 11.Lucas Meek, (14.Maxwell Pengelly 81’), (15.Max Martinello 61’), 17.Farah Koko, 19.Alen Aganovic, 23.Darcy Burgess, 26.Harry Van Der Saag, (28.Jasper Chipman 46’), (29.Will Faulder 70’)
Unused subs: 21.Anthony Carreras
Yellow cards: Matthew O’Donoghue 54’
Red cards: None
Blacktown City: 1.Cayden Henderson, 4.Lachlan Campbell, 5.Grant Lynch, 6.Adam Berry, 7.Travis Major, 10.Maskim Jez, 11.Danny Choi, 14.Mitchell Mallia, (17.Martin Fernandez 45’), 18.Nicholas O’Brien, 19.Sebastian Hayward, (22.Jacob Maniti 64’), 23.Jakob Cresnar, (25.Reuben Awaritefe 88’), (34.Jake Briggs 88’)
Unused subs: 16.Benjamin Berry, 30.William Kinghan
Yellow cards: Grant Lynch 45+1’
Red cards: None
Player Ratings:
3: Lucas Meek (MU)
2: Ben Koop (MU)
1: Martin Fernandez (BC)
-By Tobias Canning
