Brilliant Bonnyrigg too classy for Sydney United
In a dominant display by Brian Brown?s men, the White Eagles were in complete control from the outset, taking the lead after only 10? minutes via Jamie McMaster. Second-half strikes to Milorad Simonovic, and a second to McMaster, sealed the win against their stern rivals.
In the opening exchanges Todd Brodie ventured forward down the left-flank following an exquisite Mirjan Pavlovic lay-off. The left-sided midfielder?s cross into the penalty-area though, floated towards Pavlovic, was well-taken by Ali Akbal.
Bonnyrigg responded on 4? minutes when Daniel Severino was sent through on goal. The attacking midfielder?s first-time effort, on his favoured left foot, was well held by Vedran Janjetovic in the White Eagles? goal.
Both sides exchanged forward forays in quick succession as Steve Hayes forced Akbal into a save via a set-piece, before David Gullo only just failed to latch onto Brad Boardman?s cross from the right-flank at the other end.
The opening goal arrived on 10? minutes as Jamie McMaster snuck in behind the Sydney United defence. Reds defender Jacob Timpano and Janjetovic failed to swiftly deal with the perfectly floated pass behind the defence, allowing McMaster to toe-poke his effort to the goalkeeper?s left and into the back of the net.
The White Eagles continued their dominance of possession with David Gullo enjoying his afternoon down the left-flank, a constant menace for the Reds defenders. Gullo brought the small crowd onto their feet in the 25? minute as he skipped away from the challenge of two Reds defenders to close in on goal. The attacking midfielder lined-up his cut-back from the byline, though was denied by a well-timed Timpano challenge.
Sydney United?s timid response arrived on the half-hour as Ivo Bosnar released Hayes through on goal ? the final pass though carried a little long as Akbal left his line to thwart any danger.
The Reds nearly drew level in the 35? minute as Pavlovic showed all his strength, with his back to goal, to turn and unleash a powerful low-drive on goal and force Akbal into a fine save down to his right.
Bonnyrigg continued to hold the greater share of possession across the middle of the park, though the Reds had the home-side on the back foot when Pavlovic lined-up a free-kick from 30-metres.The burly striker?s first-time effort carried a real punch though lacked precision as the ball finished well wide of goal.
Mitchell Thompson and Joe Vrkic combined in the 42? minute via a corner with the latter failing to test Akbal with his looping header at the back post.
Bonnyrigg closed the half on the front foot as Boardman headed a Chris Tadrosse cross from the left towards goal ? the striker?s effort finished inches wide of Janjetovic?s goal.
The visitors started the second-half in attacking fashion as Hayes played a delightful ball behind the White Eagles defence and into the path of Petar Markovic. Always stretching to get to the ball, Markovic beat the challenge of Milan Zoric and goalkeeper Akabl, though failed to find the back of the net.
Despite conceding early possession, Bonnyrigg doubled their lead in the 51? minute following a swift counter-attacking move. The White Eagles moved the ball exceptionally well out of midfield before Milorad Simonovic was picked out inside the penalty-area to finish with aplomb past an exposed Janjetovic.
Nathan Elasi almost made an immediate impact when he replaced David Zullo shortly after the hour ? Gullo, arguably one of the best on show was forced to leave the field with a leg injury. Elasi was picked out by a slick Boardman centre from the left, though failed to direct his attempt on goal.
The White Eagles play across the park was a class above the Reds who failed to find any momentum throughout the match, even though the introduction of Ante Tomic midway through the half provided the visitors with an outlet to get forward.
Simonovic nearly doubled his personal tally for the afternoon when he stung the palms of Janjetovic with a long-range effort. The goalkeeper, diving to his left, did exceptionally well to keep the deficit at two.
Moments later, Boardman used his strength, and a sharp turn, to get forward and unleash a venomous strike goalbound ? the effort finished inches wide of the mark.
Sydney United did respond in the 73? minute via defender Jacob Timpano. The Reds new signing tried his luck from distance, and had the White Eagles supporters nervy as the ball flashed past Akbal?s right-hand post.
Timpano?s attempt spurred the Reds into action, and Hayes should have really re-opened the contest on 75? minutes. The attacking midfielder found a yard of space inside the penalty-area, and from an acute angle, was denied by Akbal who parried at point-blank range. The resulting corner saw Glavas rise highest to get his head onto the delivery from the left, though his glancing effort ricocheted off the post before finishing behind for a goal-kick.
Bonnyrigg killed off the contest in the 76? minute as another swift move forward produced their third goal of the afternoon. Jamie McMaster made the most of some static defending as he rounded Janjetovic before slotting home into an open goal to round out the result.
Luka Glavas squandered a late chance to grab a consolation for the visitors, though his view of goal was quickly closed by a perfectly timed Wade Oostendorp tackle.
The White Eagles spared the Reds any further grief when Nathan Elasi squandered a glorious one-on-one chance in injury-time. Sent through on goal by a brilliant Shane Webb, Elasi?s diagonal effort across goal skimmed the upright and behind the goal-line.
In the Grade-20 encounter, Sydney United scored an impressive 3-1 win over the White Eagles.
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 (Jamie McMaster 10?, 76?, Milorad Simonovic 51?)
Sydney United 0
Saturday, 12th June, 2010
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg
Referee: James Lewis
Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho and Steven Nguyen
Fourth Official: Steven Lucas
Crowd: 250
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1.Ali Akbal; 2.Paul Cotte (C), 5.Milan Zoric (14.Kengo Takushima 68?), 8.Milorad Simonovic, 9.Brad Boardman, 10.Daniel Severino (4.Michael Brown 80?), 11.Shane Webb, 12.Chris Tadrosse, 17.David Gullo (15.Nathan Elasi 62?), 19.Jamie McMaster, 20.Wade Oostendorp
Substitutes Not Used: 90.Nenad Vekic, 16.Stefan Heleta
Yellow Cards: Milan Zoric 36?, Paul Cotte 50?
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United: 1.Vedran Janjetovic; 5.Damon Collina, 6.Joe Vrkic (C), 7.Todd Brodie (11.Luka Glavas 53?), 16.Mitchell Thompson, 12.Jacob Timpano, 14.Petar Markovic, 10.Steve Hayes, 21.Sean Mitchell (32.Ante Tomic 53?), 23.Ivo Bosnar, 25.Mirjan Pavlovic
Substitutes Not Used: 9.David Zdrilic, 3.Kyle Ewart, 20.Cem Akili
Yellow Cards: Todd Brodie 15?, Mitchell Thompson 58?
Red Cards:
-By Joseph Carlucci
