Spartans stun White Eagles
Blacktown Spartans claimed their first win of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with a 2-1 victory against Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre on Saturday.
A 76th minute Anthony Proia strike was the difference as the Spartans came from a goal down to secure all three points
IT was a cagey opening ten minutes with the Spartans and Bonnyrigg trading possession without a sustained chance.
It was the home side that produced the first chance when a Robbie Younis free-kick sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Yuta Kokado broke open the game in the 15th minute when his powerful shot was too much for Blacktown shot stopper Carlos Saliadarre to give the White Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Bonnyrigg were energized by the goal and took control of possession with the midfield determined to feed striker Robbie Younis.
Blacktown Spartans fought their way back into the contest when former Western Sydney Wanderer, Yianni Perkatis whistled his 27th minute volley just past James Chronopoulos’ post.
If that was a practice shot, Perkatis’ second effort was perfect. He fired a 30-yard volley into Chronopoulos’ net to level the game back at 1-1.
Much like for Bonnyrigg’s goal, Perkatis’ strike gave the Spartans a spring in their step and they were unlucky not to add a second before the half-time whistle. Jacob Ott had two chances but wasn’t able to force a save.
Bonnyrigg returned in the second half with a point to prove and it was once again Kokada who troubled Saliadarre in the Spartans net.
Proia and Futa Nakamura took their game to another level as the second half progressed as the visitors slowly worked their way on top.
Blacktown’s pressure paid off as Bonnyrigg coughed up possession and allowed Proia to cut in and lift the ball over Chronopoulos for a 2-1 lead.
It was one-way traffic in the final minutes of the game as the Spartans held off for the win.
Victorious Blacktown Spartans coach Ben de Haan was pleased with his side’s performance.
"The players definitely showed a lot of fight today. It was something we lacked last weekend and it took two special goals. You can’t ask for more," he said.
"No one has hit their straps yet this season so to bank three points against a good Bonnyrigg side is always a good thing.”
Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown labelled tonight’s effort some of the worst he had endured as coach.
"The score tonight reflected our performance. It was one of the poorest performances I have seen in my time at Bonnyrigg," he said.
"We lacked intensity which is not how we play and it showed in the two goals we conceded.
"Credit to the Spartans. They outplayed us across the park and deserved the victory."
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Kokada ’15)
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Perkatis ’32, Proia ’76)
Saturday March 19 2016
Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Referee: M Weiner
Assistant Referees: N Backo and J Park
4th Official: P Liaros
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: Chronopoulos, Vrankovic, Robinson, Kondek, Younis, Kokado, Miller, Galloway, Gil, Peterson (Jenner ’75) and Chun.
Substitutes not used: Mansueto, McKenzie, McDonald, Savicic
Yellow cards: Vrankovic, Gill, Kondek
Red cards:
Blacktown Spartans: Carlos Saliadarre, Vazquez, Dukic, Perkatis, Sasaki, Ott, Proia (Mutch ’93), Nakamura, Whiteside, Tomohiro and Gauthier (Tosi ’84)
Subsitutes not used: Nascimben (gk), Dullak, Mooy.
Yellow cards: Nakamura
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings
3 – Anthony Proia (BS)
2 – Yianni Perkatis (BS)
1 – Yuta Kokada (BWE)
-By Justin Davies at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
