White Eagles record much needed victory over Manly
Bonnyrigg White Eagles took all three much needed competition points with a 2-1 victory over Manly United on Saturday night at Bonnyrigg Sports Ground that eased pressure on the club’s current standings.
It was a frantic six-minute spell inside the opening 20 minutes that had this match sorted for Brian Brown’s men.
Dean Bereveskos, in only his second start of the NPL NSW Men’s season, got the home side off to a flyer before Shervin Adeli doubled the White Eagles’ lead with yet another special goal.
Ben Tosi then found his own net to get Manly United straight back into the game but that was all the away side could do as they saw three points slip.
Both sides were ravaged by injuries but it was the Northern Beaches outfit who found it tougher to cope without the influential Sasa Macura in midfield.
The home side had the first chance, Korean import Mun So Gil going close shooting just wide off the post after a poor clearance from a corner.
Fourteen minutes in and Bonnyrigg hit the front.
Some fine build up play saw Adeli lob a ball over the Manly defence for Bereveskos as the winger calmly chipped the on-rushing Shaun Catlin.
It was his first competition goal in Bonnyrigg White Eagle colours much to his delight after hitting the back of the net.
Three minutes later and the White Eagles made it two.
Bereveskos turned provider as Adeli received the ball with his back to the goal, turned his defender before curling his effort into the top corner.
The goals continued to rain in as the away side halved the deficit only two minutes later.
Dom Ferguson got a fortunate bounce down the left by-line before crossing into the area with the unfortunate Tosi volleying in beyond James Chronopolous who got the nod ahead of David Bradasevic.
Macallister should’ve equalised on 23 minutes for Manly after being found on his own at the back post. He seemed to have surprised himself with the amount of time he had as Chronopolous picked up the loose ball.
Adeli and Bereveskos were in the mood with the striker getting on to the winger’s cross to head just passed the top corner.
Tosi almost made up for his earlier error but Catlin somehow parried a bobbling ball with no White Eagles player there for the rebound in the twenty-seventh minute.
Bonnyrigg started the second half on the front foot and six minutes after the break, club captain Ray Miller showed his marvellous skill, dribbling in from the left, beating defender after defender before shooting wide of the goal.
Miller tucked in Sam Gallaway in the 72nd minute as the left back blasted a ball toward the far post, smacking it against the post before Manly cleared for a corner.
Coach Brian Brown was a relieved man at the full time whistle with his side’s much needed victory.
“The first half hour of the game we really showed how we can play, one touch-two touch, movement, pressing and when we play like that we’re a really good team.”
The first Bonnyrigg goal saw some great combination and the White Eagles coach says he wants more of the same.
“We’ve been looking for that all season and we need to keep this belief throughout the season.
“I thought we defended well, Dylan Macallister made it really awkward for us but I felt we did really well.”
Paul Dee was disappointed not to come away with something from the match.
“Both squads were depleted with injury and optimistic with the players that can return.
“The game was more of a battle to try and get away with some points while you’re a little under strength.”
The White Eagles will have little respite as they take on NPL 3 NSW Men’s side St George FA in round 6 of the FFA Cup on Wednesday 23rd of May at Seymour Shaw with the winner progressing to the final stages of the tournament.
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Bereveskos 14’, Adeli 17’)
Manly United FC 1 (Own Goal Tosi 19’)
Bonnyrigg Sports Ground, Bonnyrigg
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Referee: Katie Paterson
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling, Emma Kocbek
4th Official: Andrews
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1. Chronopolous, 10. Adeli (4. Krljar), 12. Bereveskos (11. Kadric), 13. Mckenzie, 14. Smith, 15. Miller, 16. Gallaway, 17. O’Rourke, 18. Gil, 20. Tosi, Woo.
Substitutes: 21. Bradasevic, 2. Avery, 23. Adilovic.
Yellow cards: Gil, Woo, O’Rourke, Tosi
Red cards: N/A
Manly United: 20. Catlin, 2. Paull, 3. Lobb, 4. Oughtred, 6. Ferguson, 9. Macallister, 10. Cholakian, 11. Taneski, 21. Fox, 23. Alessi, 33. Peterson.
Substitutes: 1. Mitchell, 14. Rooke, 17. Stensness, 19. Mcmanus, 22. Firth.
Yellow cards: Cholakian, Oughtred
Red cards: N/A
Player Ratings
3 – Shervin Adeli (BWE)
2 – Ray Miller (BWE)
1 – Sam Gallaway (BWE)
-By Nikola Pozder
