Phoebe Gilbane capped late drama at Cromer Park, as her 86th minute equaliser rescued a point for Manly United in a 2-2 draw with neighbours Northern Tigers. The result keeps Manly undefeated and top of the NPL Women’s NSW table.
Manly opened the scoring in the 13th minute following a superb pass by Emily Minett to Daisy Arrowsmith, who showed composure to dink the ball over Tigers goalkeeper Anna Norton.
Northern Tigers were forced to respond and on 21 minutes high pressing resulted in a turnover, which led to Nicola Dominikovich testing Manly shot stopper Nicole Simonsen from long range.
Haley Johnson has made a bright start to life as a Tigers player, and in the 34th minute she brought the best out of Simonsen, drawing a full length save with a shot from the edge of the area.
It was Johnson who would find an equaliser three minutes after that initial chance. Bo Burton found space on the right flank and delivered a precise cross to the far post, where Johnson was waiting to plant a downward header past Simonsen.
Seven minutes after the restart, Johnson nearly created the chance to put the Tigers in front. Her cross from the right side found Bo Burton’s lunge, and Simonsen had to be alert, batting the ball away from the goal line. Bo Burton and Johnson continued to take turns setting each other up, and three minutes later Bo Burton put a pinpoint corner onto Johnson’s head, with Simonsen’s fingertips preventing Johnson from scoring a second goal.
There was nearly a calamity for the hosts on 77 minutes when both Simonsen and McKaela Schmelzer failed to clear their lines. However, advancing Tigers midfielder Saffron Grass could only muster a tame sidefooted effort which Simonsen gathered easily. Two minutes later, it was Manly’s turn to go close, as Minett couldn’t react quickly enough to a deflection off Leah Burton’s corner, the ball bouncing off her and into Norton’s gloves.
Bo Burton was rewarded for her quality play with the goal to put Tigers 2-1 up in the 85th minute. She released Charlotte Mortlock with a clever pass to the right flank, and when Mortlock crossed into the middle, Bo Burton was in position to slam a left footed shot past Simonsen.
However, the visitors barely had time to celebrate. Just over 60 seconds later, Peyton Starner’s cross from the right side wasn’t cleared and Gilbane timed her run into the area perfectly, volleying home for a dramatic equaliser.
Northern Tigers would have one last chance at a corner kick, but Grass and Servet Uzunlar were denied by last ditch defending. Both teams stay undefeated, with Manly occupying top spot after five rounds.
