Manly United’s undefeated start to the NPL Women’s NSW season is over after a 1-0 defeat to Bulls FC Academy at Northbridge Oval.
The game saw the return of former Manly captain and double Championship winner Chloe O’Brien to the club, and she slotted straight into the starting lineup for the visitors.
In the early exchanges, Bulls looked to threaten with long range efforts from Arna Hogarth-Scott and Daniella Naeimi, but Manly shot stopper Nicole Simonsen saved both attempts easily. At the other end, Emily Minett combined with Tegan Biasi and tried for goal from outside the area, shooting straight at Mio Nemoto.
In the 19th minute, Isabella Coco-Di Sipio cut in from the left flank and unleashed a powerful attempt at goal, drawing a fingertip save from Simonsen.
Then on 24 minutes, Bulls opened the scoring after Jasmine Meli intercepted the ball and passed to Amber Luchtmeijer, who in turn set up Petria Phillips for a close range finish.
Five minutes before half time, Manly were agonisingly close to drawing level. Grace Arnold played a pinpoint corner kick towards McKaela Schmelzer, and the American’s header was cleared off the goal line by Luchtmeijer. In the resulting penalty area scramble, Minett headed wide of the target.
Phillips nearly doubled her tally for the game at the start of the second half, heading off target after Coco-Di Sipio did brilliantly to pick her out from the right touchline. Bulls continued to press for a second goal and in the 58th minute, Hogarth-Scott was denied by a fine reflex save from Simonsen. Luchtmeijer was the next to try her luck on 66 minutes, shooting inches wide from outside the area.
Despite the scoreline, Simonsen was in excellent form and this continued in the 71st minute as the Manly custodian was at full stretch to deny Phillips.
Coco-Di Sipio could have iced the game on 87 minutes after a precise through ball from Phillips, but Simonsen did just enough to keep the Bulls forward out. In the end, that miss didn’t matter, and Bulls recorded their second victory in a row.
