There was late drama at Cromer Park on Sunday evening, as a 90th minute goal from Manly United substitute Ellie Kerr earned the Northern Beaches side a point and a 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers.
After a cagey start to the game from both teams, Milly Bennett of the Wanderers tried her luck from long range in the 21st minute and Manly goalkeeper Jodie Drever saved comfortably. Seven minutes later, the hosts threatened through Emily Minett, who stung Aimee Hall’s palms from a tight angle. With no further clear chances in the remainder of the half, the teams headed into the dressing sheds with the score at 0-0.
On 56 minutes, Manly’s Lucy Richards rose well to head a Daisy Arrowsmith corner towards goal, but play was halted as Chloe O’Brien had fouled Hall in the six yard box. The home side won another set piece two minutes later and forced a penalty area scramble, from which Ruby Jackson hit the post.
The Wanderers recovered from the close calls at their end, taking the lead on the hour mark. Miriam Zumaya whipped in a pinpoint cross from the left wing, and Talia Younis escaped the defence to poke the ball past Drever for a 1-0 Wanderers lead.
Manly were now forced to chase the game and in the 67th minute, McKaela Schmelzer charged forward, threading a ball through to Tegan Biasi, but her shot was straight at Hall. The Wanderers keeper came to her side’s rescue again on 77 minutes, saving one-on-one against Ellie Kerr after ther Manly substitute was released by a sensational pass from Minett.
Frida Karaberis could have sealed three points for the Wanderers in the 86th minute when she pounced on a loose ball in the area, but instead she drilled a low shot wide of the goal. The action was now end-to-end and Manly responded three minutes later with a swift counter attack involving Schmelzer, Minett and Biasi, but Kerr was denied an equaliser by Hall’s acrobatics.
However, Manly found the goal they were desperately seeking at the resulting corner kick. When Wanderers couldn’t clear the danger, Kerr rifled a shot through a crowd of players and it was too hot for Hall to handle, the ball sneaking over the goal line for a dramatic leveller.
The result means Manly finish the weekend in fourth place, while the Wanderers remain in ninth.
