Contenders or pretenders: Manly’s trip to Blacktown to prove they belong
With nine rounds to go Manly United men’s Premier League team is clinging to fifth on the NSW National Premier League ladder, nine points behind leaders Sydney United 58.
Yet the northern beaches outfit has a prime opportunity to shake up the leaderboard when they take on second-placed Blacktown City at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday.
Easier said than done, of course, given United’s form has been patchy while the home side has won eight of their 11 matches. Ironically, Manly United are one of the few teams to get over the top of Blacktown – a 1-0 win at Cromer Park in round 3.
In Manly’s last five games there’s been a win, a draw and three “L”s including a 2-1 loss at home last weekend to Wollongong Wolves.
Blacktown City, prior to last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Northbridge Bulls, were on a 5-week winning streak which included a 5-0 shellacking of none other than Wollongong Wolves.
Yet United has shown flashes of brilliance this season. Last week against Wollongong was no exception. Indeed within the opening 10 minutes they’d missed two golden opportunities.
First Jack Fulton’s shot was parried into the path of Dejan Pandurevic before the star striker blasted his close-range strike wide of an open net. One minute later the evergreen Richie Cardozo slotted a superb ball in behind for Luca Kmet who was contained by onrushing goal-keeper Hayden Durose.
Manly’s goal came from a penalty initially saved by Durose but driven home by Pandurevic on the rebound.
Pandurevic remains the key attacking weapon for United while veteran Keiran Paull offers experience in the backline and his runs from defence help open up Manly’s attack.
Pandurevic is United’s leading goal-scorer with five while Fulton, Cardozo and Seiya Kambayashi have two apiece. Livewire super-sub Ben Gibson, 19, has one goal in six outings off the bench.
Kick-off is at 3pm.