Manly United swooped into Western Sydney heartland and brought three points back to the Northern Beaches after a massive 5-1 win at Wanderers Football Park.
For a Wanderers youth side making their debut in the NPL Women’s competition, coming up against league stalwarts Manly was a fantastic opportunity to experience the realities of top flight football. Meanwhile, Tom Hopley’s Manly side would have been gunning to spoil the party for the debutants.
An unfortunate early injury to Australian international futsal representative Nikkita Fazzari was quickly followed with more misfortune for the Wanderers. Manly’s Emily Minett capitalised on a deflected ball and hit a speculative finish from distance, that bounced past goalkeeper Aimee Hall and into the back of the net. 1-0 to Manly in the 24th minute.
The visitors showed no signs of slowing down from there as they doubled their lead in the 28th minute, after Anita Zordan dinked a perfect ball in behind the Wanderers defence for Tegan Biasi, who bypassed an outrushing Hall before smashing the ball home for 2-0.
The Wanderers were left stunned after goal No. 3 arrived for Manly, an excellently guided header from defender Phoebe Gilbane off a corner. 3-0 in the 35th minute.
There would be hints of a comeback from the home side in the 43rd minute when Anika Stajcic strolled in behind the Manly defence, calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Nicole Simonsen. 3-1 just before halftime.
Gilbane was again involved for her side in the second half, showcasing her incredible engine to drive down the right wing and launch a spectacular cross onto Minett’s head. Manly’s number 9 nodded the ball in to the bottom corner, making it 4-1 in the 64th minute.
A wonderful ball from Biasi unlocked a golden chance for Nicole Stuart in the 71st minute. Manly’s number 5 scored the fifth of the afternoon for the visitors, scoring at the second attempt after Hall saved her initial strike.
By Football NSW
