Sharks Prove Too Slick For Manly

Sharks showed that we are challengers for silverware in a 3-0 victory over Manly United at Cromer Park on Friday.

Round 2 saw us come away with a massive 3-0 win at Manly. Maki bagged an impressive double, while Lachlan MacDonald netted a sensational goal from an impossible angle in our dominant victory on the road.

Jerry Skotatis sliding in to action

It took just 25 seconds for Manly to test us, as Aganovic’s header was just off target. Just a few minutes later Ikko thought he’d scored the opener with a perfectly timed header, but it was ruled offside.

The match remained fiercely contested, with O’Driscoll narrowly missing the far post in the 23rd minute after Kekeris’s free kick found him in space.

Manly’s early misses proved costly, as we punished them with two quick-fire goals in the 25th and 37th minutes, leaving them stunned.

The first strike came when Maki latched onto a rebound following a save from Kaye, who couldn’t control the ball.

Lachlan M then produced a moment of magic, scoring from a tight angle after some superb build-up play from the team.

The Sharks’ dominance continued just two minutes into the second half as Maki sealed his brace. Mason’s dazzling run and clever footwork inside the box created the space for Maki to fire home.

Soon after, Meek attempted an audacious bicycle kick, but our Danijel was quick to react, denying the attempt.

Meek, the hero for Manly last week, made a dangerous run towards goal, but was pulled down from behind by an impeccable tackle from Ikko as the visitors continued to push midway through the second half.

Nizic summed it up perfectly in his post-match interview.

“Manly scored a few goals last week and today we did a very good job of tightening up and keeping them quiet.

“We worked hard on closing the game out and dug in deep, it was an effort to be proud of.

“For ninety-minutes we didn’t stop, and we kept on running. It’s showing that all the hard work we’ve put in during pre-season is starting to pay off.

“We’re very happy to have gotten the points today because the league is so tough, every team is in it to win it.

“We’re aiming to get as many points as possible because we know making or missing out on the finals can come down to just a couple of results.”