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Western Sydney Wanderers 1-5 Manly United

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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

MUFC Profile – Rachel Sweetnam

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For International Women’s Day, we wanted to do a short profile on a woman who does so much behind-the-scenes work for our club. Rachel Sweetnam has been a constant presence at our Girls Youth League / Senior Women’s game days for many years.

“I started when my daughter (Gemma from our Women’s U23 squad) was 10, so this would be my 14th season managing her teams. She got to a point where she was in the U18s, and then Reserve Grade. I managed both of those teams, and then also started managing the 1st Grade team. I’m no longer 1st Grade team manager, but I help with game day operations, with managers, helping Shaz (Egger) with everything, pretty much whatever’s required.

“I love watching the growth, because I’ve been here for so long and I’ve watched girls start so young, and then develop into senior players. It’s beautiful to watch. I also love helping the coaches, especially Sharon Egger and Tom Hopley, their passion is second to none. It’s brilliant, and I love being involved with a club that’s so passionate.”

We’re grateful to have people like Rachel at our club, say hi when you see her at a game!

Five-star Manly breeze past Mount Druitt

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Manly United put on a Friday night show against Mount Druitt Town Rangers, humbling the newly promoted side 5-0 at Cromer Park.

Manly went into halftime with a two goal lead courtesy of Harry McCarthy and Harry Van der Saag.

Van der Saag added his second soon after halftime, before substitutes Darcy Burgess and Benjamin Koop also found the net.

United went close to an opening goal within four minutes. Bilal Belkadi prodded the ball towards Lucas Meek in the box, who could not poke the ball beyond Mount Druitt goalkeeper Dylan Niski.

The hosts’ initiative paid off four minutes later as they took the lead. Meek’s flick-on found Van der Saag on the right edge of the box, who swung the ball towards the back post for McCarthy to tap home from close range.

Mount Druitt started to gain some control of the game around 20 minutes in as they worked some nice combinations in midfield.

However, Manly created the next big chance 27 minutes in when the lively Meek found space on the left of the box and drew a sharp near post save from Niski.

Two minutes later, the home side doubled their lead through Van der Saag. The midfielder saw the ball drop to him on the left edge of the box, where he curled a superb effort into the far right corner.

United were eager to build on this early momentum and displayed some flowing football, but could not add to their advantage heading into the sheds.

The home side carried on their fluid play and scored a third goal in the 52nd minute. Van der Saag was at the heart of things again, driving down the right and mazing his way into a shooting position in the box, where he slid the ball past Niski.

The Rangers were struggling to cope with Manly in transition, with United flooding forward each time the visitors turned over the ball. This was in large part due to goalkeeper Levi Kaye’s snapping distribution.

Manly were inches away from a fourth goal 66 minutes in when Meek took on a curling effort from the left edge of the box that flew just past the right post.

Van Der Saag almost grabbed his hat-trick eight minutes later, hitting a first-time effort from the edge of the area that fell wide of the left post.

Moments later, United scored their fourth. Burgess, who had only been on the field for a few minutes, lifted a first-time strike into the roof of the net, following Koop’s pass.

Mount Druitt moved the ball up the field well in the 82nd minute, and it arrived at Pedrinho’s feet, but the number 10 curled the ball over the top from range.

Manly carried on their ruthless performance two minutes later as Koop became the second substitute to score off the bench. Taiga Kawano escaped down the right and drilled the ball across the box for Koop to guide the ball in, for Manly’s fifth of the night.

Koop’s goal was the final gloss on a sensational night for Manly United as they picked up their second win of the season.

 

Match Stats

Manly United FC 5 (Harry McCarthy 8’, Harry Van der Saag 29’ 52’, Darcy Burgess 75’, Benjamin Koop 84’)
Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC 0

Friday 7 March 2025
Cromer Park, Cromer

Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Jackson Mackie and Rowan Fisher
Fourth Official: Mia Velarde

Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue (16. Ryan Devine 73’), 4. Jesse Piriz (12. Rocco Pelle 74’), 6. Bilal Belkadi (23. Darcy Burgess 70’), 10. Harry McCarthy (13. Taiga Kawano 70’), 11. Lucas Meek, 17. Farah Koko (9. Benjamin Koop 70’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 26. Harry Van der Saag, 28. Jasper Chipman
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Anthony Carreras
Yellow Cards: Bilal Belkadi 61’
Red Cards: Nil

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 2. Alexander Trajanoski (7. Garang Awac 69’), 3. Joseph White, 4. Zac Sfiligoi, 9. Joey Gibbs, 10. Pedrinho, 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 20. Thomas Lopez (8. Bailey Jacobs 46’), 21. William Rankin (14. Olayinka Sunmola 69’), 22. Jude Rankin (11. John Azar 46’), 99. Rocco Fragale (17. Cooper Coskerie 69’)
Substitutes Not Used: 16. Stefan Giglio
Yellow Cards: Zac Sfiligoi 14’, Rocco Fragale 59’
Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings:
3 – Harry Van der Saag (MU)
2 – Harry McCarthy (MU)
1 – Levi Kaye (MU)

Report by Tim Gibson (Football NSW)

Points shared at Cromer Park

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Manly United played out a scoreless draw against Sydney FC in Round 4 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition, played at Cromer Park on Friday evening.

On the last day of summer, warm conditions on the Northern Beaches certainly took their toll on both sides. As such, the first real opportunity of the game only arrived in the 20th minute and it was a wonderful chance for Sydney FC.

A long through ball found Northern Beaches local Mathias Macallister on the edge of the box and he created some beautiful space before firing on target, but he was thwarted by a superb save from Levi Kaye, who is always one of the best custodians in the business. However, the ball rebounded back into the field of play and Joe Lacey tried a spectacular overhead kick, but misconnected and the chance went begging.

A few minutes later, midway through the first half, the young Sydney FC side was at it again through Macallister, but once again his on-target shot couldn’t beat Kaye between the sticks.

Manly United had to wait until the 45th minute to try their luck when a precise Lucas Meek cross from the right was met by a Matthew O’Donoghue header, but in the end Sydney FC goalkeeper Jacob Cremen-Cowan was alert enough to save. Both sides then trudged off into the sheds for a well-deserved break at half time and a cool drink.

In the second half, the first goal scoring chance belonged to Sydney FC in the 67th minute when Lacey, with a brilliant effort from outside the box, brought out the best in ‘keeper Kaye, who turned his shot over the crossbar for a corner.

At this stage Manly United coach and Central Coast Mariners legend Patrick Zwaanswijk had seen enough to make four changes in the 68th minute, in an attempt to reshuffle the deck. Fresh legs on a hot night was the aim as the game desperately required a breakthrough, that in the end didn’t eventuate.

The game ebbed and flowed right until the final whistle, with both sides making some noise. However, real goal-scoring chances were few and far between as both sides struggled in the hot, humid conditions.

A long ball in the 90th minute by Benjamin Koop was at least an attempt to spark a goal for Manly United, but in the end the ball dwindled wide of the mark and out for a goal kick in what really summed up the night for both sides and the loyal fans at Cromer Park.

Both sides earned a point, probably the fairest outcome for such a tight contest.

For Sydney FC, coach Jimmy Van Weeren will be at least partially satisfied given the plethora of other teams on the ladder in their vicinity after a month of regular season football. It’s a credit to their young, talented playing group that they compete so well at such a high level.

Manly United might regret the loss of two points given the bonus of their home ground in what was technically Sydney FC’s home match. However, the team in general, and goalkeeper Levi Kaye in particular, deserve credit for a third clean sheet in four games.

Match Stats

SYDNEY FC 0
MANLY UNITED 0

Friday 28 February 2025
Cromer Park

Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant referees: Aaron Bloch, Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Travis Griffith

SYDNEY FC: 1. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 4. Joseph Calusic, 5. Corey Cronin, 6. Tyler Williams, 9. Mathias Macallister, 10. Taye Hedley (11. Marin France 62’), 21. Zachary De Jesus (22. Will Kennedy 46’), 25. Alen Harbas, 26. Dylan Rose, 27. Lachlan Middleton, 29. Joe Lacey (2. Noah Mathie 75’).
Substitutes not used: 12. Alex Zaverdinos, 14. Jared Middleton, 15. Samuel Lancaster
Yellow Card: Rose 89′
Red Cards: Nil

MANLY UNITED: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue (6. Bilal Belkadi 67’), 4. Jesse Piriz, 10. Harry McCarthy (39. Samuel Griffiths), 11. Lucas Meek, 13. Taiga Kawano (9. Benjamin Koop), 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Darcy Burgess (16. Ryan Devine 67’), 26. Harry Van Der Saag, 28. Jasper Chipman (17. Farah Koko 67’).
Substitutes not used: 21. Anthony Carreras
Yellow Cards: McCarthy 44’, Devine 78’, Van Der Saag 90’
Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings
3 – Mathias Macallister (SFC)
2 – Lucas Meek (MU)
1 – Joe Lacey (SFC)

By Football NSW