Blacktown City hammer four past hapless White Eagles
A Charles Mendy hat-rick helped Blacktown City secure back to back victories after hammering Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4-0 at Lily’s Football Centre on Saturday evening.
The former Peninsula Power attacker opened the scoring from the penalty spot early in the first half and clinched a second later on alongside fellow home debutant Devante Clut as Mark Crittenden’s side raced to a commanding 3-0 lead at half time.
Mendy sealed the treble after slotting home his second spot kick on the hour mark to cap an impressive home debut at Lily’s and consign the travelling White Eagles to a dismal defeat.
Brian Brown’s side were thoroughly outplayed and were chasing the match early on when Mason Versi was fouled inside the area by Jeewok Woo with Mendy burying the resulting penalty into the left corner.
City doubled the lead twenty minutes later when Mendy’s effort was parried by White Eagles gloveman David Bradasevic with Clut tucking the rebound away on the volley.
Mendy and Clut were involved again in Blacktown’s third with the striker taking the ball from Clut’s toes before firing underneath Bradasevic.
Blacktown survived a brief second half rally from the visitors and underlined their dominance when Mendy coolly secured his third after Nikola Zonjic fouled substitute Daniel Bragg.
With Mendy withdrawn immediately for Danny Choi Blacktown continued to pepper the Bonnyrigg goal with Bradasevic and the White Eagles rearguard forced into several last ditch interventions to prevent an onslaught.
Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden praised his side for an exceptional performance following the match.
“I don’t think we had a bad player today,” he said.
“Charles is a very exciting player he’s got pace, he’s got a good touch, he’s got a good finish but it’s very hard to single anyone out today, I thought the boys were all sharp.
“We’re pretty happy with seven from nine points – we go to APIA next week who are a very good footy team and then Manly after that.”
Bonnyrigg stalwart Brian Brown, a former Blacktown City winning Premiership and Championship coach, condemned what was a miserable showing from the White Eagles.
“I think the goals we gave away today were just silly, the penalties were from silly defending, we’ve given away three penalties so far this season – we just really did not defend well, the basis of coming here was to defend well and we didn’t do that,” he said.
“It’s the same old same old, I said to them at half time this is my fault because I’m the one who picked the team.
“I think it’s time we stand up and be counted.”
Match Stats
Blacktown City 4 (Mendy 4’, 43’, 63’, Clut 23’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Saturday 24th March 2018,
Lily’s Football Centre, Seven Hills
Referee: S. Lucas
Assistant Referees: L. Greenshields, R. Osbourne
Fourth official: C. Hughes
Blacktown City: 8. Daniel Araujo (19. Zachary Cairncross 70’), 7. Devante Clut, 10. Connor Evans (23. Daniel Bragg 55’), 6. Matthew Lewis, 5. Grant Lynch, 12. Charles Mendy (11. Danny Choi 65’), 20. Stevan Savicic, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 21. Yianni Spyrakis, 18. Mason Versi
Substitutes not used: 16. Mark Rodic, 1. Dylan Niski
Yellow cards: N/A
Red cards: N/A
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 21. David Bradasevic, 7. Tynan Diaz, 16. Samuel Gallaway, 18. Gil Mun-Soo, 5. Adam Jenner (14. Bradie Smith 45’), 11. Asmir Kadric (10. Shervin Adeli 60’), 15. Raymond Miller (12. Dean Bereveskos 45’), 17. James O’Rourke, 3. David Vrankovic, 22. Jeewook Woo, 6. Nikola Zonjic
Substitutes not used: 1. James Chronopoulos, 20. Benjamin Tosi
Yellow cards: Vrankovic 79’
Red cards: N/A
Player ratings
3 – Charles Mendy (BC)
2 – Devante Clut (BC)
1 – Daniel Araujo (BC)
-By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Jacob Windon
