Bonnyrigg overcome stubborn Wolves
Daniel Severino opened the scoring in somewhat controversial circumstances in the first-half before Mark Picciolini levelled the scores minutes later. Nikola Zonjic restored Bonnyrigg?s lead in the second period before Severino sealed the victory with his second goal in the closing stages.
In truth the match could have gone either way, with the Wolves taking the game to their opponents throughout the 90? minutes, however Bonnyrigg were by far the more clinical in the final third of the pitch.
Both teams started the match with a display of free flowing football that was prevalent throughout the 90? minutes of what was a truly entertaining encounter on the South Coast.
Brody Crane was the first goalkeeper to be tested when Severino?s free-kick after a quarter of an hour took a dangerous deflection in the 6-yard box. Crane showed lightning reflexes to tip the ball wide for a corner.
Crane was however beaten 4? minutes later when Severino was played on-side by Alex Mansueto, who lay injured in the box. Severino was provided the time and space in-front of goal by the remainder of the Wolves? defence, and the enigmatic striker duly side-footed the ball past Crane to open the scoring.
The Wolves did not have to wait long to find an equaliser as Mark Picciolini found the back of the net on 25? minutes. Smart build up play between Jason Trifiro and Tayfun Buyokkopru saw Tynan Diaz released on the right-hand side of the 18-yard box. The defender accurately centred for Picciolini to outmuscle his marker and tap the ball into an open goal.
Bonnyrigg wasted a fine chance to regain the lead late in the half when Michael Brown skipped past Diaz on the left wing before cutting back for Bradley Boardman, who fired his first time shot well over the crossbar.
The home-side stepped up their game in the second-half by sitting higher up the pitch and defending from the front. Lisandro Berbis led by example, putting in a dominant display in the centre of the park while Picciolini continued to work hard to cause headaches for the Bonnyrigg backline.
Andres Gomez intercepted a defensive pass from Bonnyrigg early in the second period and ran at Paul Cotte and Wade Oostendorp only to fire over the crossbar from the penalty spot.
Minutes later Trifiro dispossessed Brown in the 18-yard box and crossed for Picciolini, however Cotte was on hand to make a last ditch clearance to deny Wolves a deserved lead.
Despite the Wolves second-half dominance, Bonnyrigg restored their advantage on 67? minutes when a Severino free-kick from the left wing was poorly cleared by Nick McInerney. Nikola Zonjic was quickest to react, volleying Bonnyrigg back into the lead from 8-yards.
The Wolves should have equalised 10? minutes later when Diaz?s brilliant corner was volleyed over from 6-yards out by an unmarked Picciolini.
Severino again stole the show late on as he wrapped up the victory after 87? minutes. The striker cleverly flicked on a long ball to put David Gullo into space on the left wing. Gullo darted to the by-line and accurately cut back for Severino to blast home his second goal of the afternoon.
Boardman put Severino put into space on edge of box in injury time; however his weak effort on goal provided Crane with the easiest of saves to deny him what would have been a well earned hat-trick.
Wolves coach Trevor Morgan stated he was happy with his team?s performance, despite the disappointing final result:
?The boys played fantastically well,? said Morgan.
?(Bonnyrigg are a) top squad. They?ve got a very experienced coaching staff, very experienced players, and I would say there was only a little bit in it.
?We might be in a different position on the table but I?m proud of the quality.?
Morgan also refused to be drawn into debating the nature of the opening goal, stating that he believes it was deservedly awarded despite the injury to Alex Mansueto.
?Alex is down, we play on, they play on,? said Morgan.
?The boys are trying to call the offside while Alex is playing them on so it?s a bit of inexperience there.
?There?s no problem with the decision; that?s football,? Morgan concluded.
In the Grade-20 division, Bonnyrigg White Eagles also took all three-points with a 4-1 defeat of South Coast Wolves.
Match Stats
South Coast Wolves 1 (Mark Picciolini 25?)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 (Daniel Severino 20?, 87?, Nikola Zonjic 67?)
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Assistant Referees: Alex Glasgow and Thomas Diakos
Fourth Official: Matt Samson
Crowd: 600 Approx.
South Coast Wolves: 1.Brody Crane; 2.Alex Mansueto, 4.Nick Littler (13.Shaun van Rooyen 46?), 5.Nick McInerney, 15.Chris Nathaniel, 17.Tynan Diaz, 6.Lisandro Berbis, 8.Tayfun Buyukkopru, 9.Mark Picciolini, 10.Jason Trifiro (18.Adrian Karakolevski 74?), 14.Andres Gomez (11.Andrew Paine 70?)
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Nikodin Matic, 16.Kieran Deane
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 90.Nenad Vekic; 2.Paul Cotte, 4.Michael Brown (5.Milan Zoric 64?), 8.Milorad Simonovic, 7.Nikola Zonjic, 15.Nathan Elasi (17.David Gullo 52?), 11.Shane Webb (13.Juan Carlos Chavez 90?), 10.Daniel Severino, 9.Bradley Boardman, 19.Jamie McMaster, 20.Wade Oostendorp
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Ali Akbal, 3.Graeme Forbes
Yellow Cards: Daniel Severino 22?, Shane Webb 44?, Paul Cotte 50?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Michael Shoolman
