Blacktown City went ahead in a game that was one where their finals place could have become a home final, but after going ahead in the first and looking stronger, Manly came back with some entertaining football tograb the three points.

The early lead was provided by clubman Luke Roodenberg who was on hand to push home a loose ball after it had been played in from the left by Sean Rooney. 1-0

After an extended period of pressure by the home team Manly at last got men forward and after several poor attempts at shots, Matthew Simm pulled the ball across to his left peg and slammed the ball agiants the left upright from 30m. It bounced wickedly behind the Blacktown 'keeper Symon Jaeger and into the net. 1-1

Blacktown resumed their dominance, with Roodenburg twice, and Ray Miller, created chances but were not able to capitalise before the break.

After the break Manly looked a diffrent side. In the 55th minute a fine attempt to lob the Demons keeper from wide on the right by Joe Gibbs brought a fine save from Jaeger. One minute later Colin Iley pulled one to the outside of the left upright.

Blacktown got forward again and won a corner on the left. It was swung in and a Demons player slammed it off the post, rebounding to a Manly player who the referee adjudjed to handle in the area. A penalty was awarded, which was taken but pullked back for encroachment. Taken again by Travis Major, this time it found the net, in the 64th minute. 2-1

In the 75th minute Manly substitute Adam Foti just had to side-foot the ball into the net after a long cross from the right took Blacktown by surprise and being sent back in to Foti. 2-2

A bizarre event in the 84th minute when what appeared to be a rebound off Graeme Forbes from a clearance found the net, to give Manly the lead. 2-3

Six minutes later substitute striker Robbie Cattanach pounced on anotehr loose ball in the Blacktown defence and slotted it into the net. 2-4

The Demons fought back, hitting the upright, and then with substitute Adam Jenner heading just over of a free-kick from the right.

The game had been a little lacklustre in the first half, but took on a quite entertaining look in the second - largely through the come-back efforts of Manly.

Grade 20: Blacktown City FC 1 - Manly United FC 0

Other Premier League results: Bankstown City 1 (Peter Peralta 59m) Sydney United 4 (Steven Hayes 13m Luka Glavas 29m pen Mitchell Thompson 54m Benjamin Vidaic 82m), Sydney Olympic FC 1 (Chris Triantis 60m) Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Blake Powell 89m), APIA Tigers 0 Marconi Stallions 0, Sutherland Sharks 0 South Coast Wolves 2 (Nicholas Littler 1m Sean Robertson 45m), Parramatta Eagles 0 Rockdale City Suns 1 (Jason Naidovski 7m).