Manly Young Guns Topple Bankstown
They had eight players out and the option to postpone the round one fixture, but Manly United gave young players an opportunity and came away with a 3-1 win over Bankstown City FC at Cromer Park on Sunday.
“It was a very, very pleasing win,” coach Tom Hopley said. “it wasn’t the prettiest one but we toughed it out and stuck to our guns. We had the option to postpone because of all our W-League players out. But we felt very strongly about giving girls an opportunity and they took it.”
United opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Sophie Nenadovic slammed the ball home from close range. Seven minutes later after a quick counter-attack, Libby Copus-Brown found herself two-on-one with the goal-keeper before squaring a pass for Caitlin Jarvie who tapped in.
There followed a “sloppy” period, according to Hopley, when Bankstown were on top and got a goal back, United going to half-time 2-1 up.
“On the ball we weren’t as good but we stuck to our structure and formation, and scrambled very well defensively. There were some desperate efforts. And when we went forward we were threatening and created opportunities.”
One of which fell to Johnson who ripped off a super strike from long range in the 65th minute, the ball flying into the top corner of the net.
“It was a very professional effort to wrap it up,” Hopley said. “We had girls we had to take off, people we’re trying to get back to fitness. But we managed the situation and ended up with very good win in the circumstances.”
Hopley was full of praise for Nenadovic in her first competitive 90 minutes of football in 12 months after serious injury. “Sophie played the whole game with high intensity, was quality on the ball and showed a cool head. She showed some touches of class.
“Kahli Johnson was a workhouse at wing back and ran all day. And Nicole Stuart was out of position at left centre back but was very reliable and made several desperate, last-ditch tackles.”