Manly United didn’t let the Sunday rain bother them and extended their undefeated start to 2025 with an excellent 2-0 win over APIA Leichhardt at Cromer Park.
It’s always an intriguing contest when Manly play APIA, with the Northern Beaches side challenging near the top of the NPL Women’s NSW table and their Inner West opponents not too far behind.
As is often the case, it was Emily Minett who threatened first for Manly, exchanging passes with Lucy Richards and landing a long range strike on the roof of the APIA net.
Midway through the first half, the hosts drew first blood when Daisy Arrowsmith’s free kick wasn’t cleared, and Grace Arnold hooked the ball into an open net for her second goal in the last two games.
Things looked like they might open up for APIA on 33 minutes when Mona Walker found her fellow Kiwi Charlotte Lancaster racing down the left flank. Lancaster tried to trick her way past two defenders, but Manly stayed resolute and Phoebe Gilbane blocked the Kiwi’s shot. Then with almost the last action of the opening stanza, an APIA counter attack featuring Gisella Pipino and Ashlie Crofts created a opening for Lancaster, but the resulting shot was dragged wide of the target.
The first chance of the second half fell Manly’s way, with APIA shot stopper Sophie Magus saving comfortably after Tegan Biasi cut in from the left side and tried for goal. Five minutes later, APIA had a big opportunity to draw level after a pinpoint pass from Melissa Caceres sent Crofts racing towards goal, but the ball was blazed over the crossbar.
In the 69th minute, APIA substitute Imogen Lane combined with Crofts to set up Hannah McNulty, and McNulty’s shot from outside the area drew a fine save from Nicole Simonsen.
Manly were rewarded for keeping their opponents at bay with a second goal on 77 minutes. Anita Zordan pounced on a loose pass and squared it for Biasi, who sent a long range looping shot over Magus and in off the post.
A minute later, Biasi was nearly at it again when Minett found her racing behind the defence, but this time Magus stood firm and made a brave stop.
The hosts saw out the game in ever-worsening conditions and recorded their fifth win of 2025, while for APIA it’s a third defeat in four games.
