Goal drought ends as Bankstown smack four past Blacktown
Bankstown City celebrated their victory song with extra passion as they broke the shackles of their frustrating season and perhaps signalled to the rest of the teams that the Lions are back in the competition.
Bankstown City started the game by pressing up on the Demons defence and as early as the 3? minute, a loose pass back to the goalkeeper was swooped upon by James Monie who rounded the Demons? Ivan Necevski and side footed the ball into an empty net.
The home-side continued to dominate the game with their quick passing and movement and the hard uneven Jensen Park surface seemed to add to the Demons frustration.
George Nohra, Tayfun Devrimol and Phillip Makrys were controlling the middle for Bankstown meanwhile Steve Liavas and Shane Webb were finding room to push forward to join the attacks at every opportunity ? on each flank.
With Blacktown striker Chris Bedzo being well marshalled by the Bankstown defence, the Demons looked to the flanks to mount attacks. It wasn?t until the 20? minute, when Blacktown had two quick counter-attacks down Adam Biddle?s wing, did they start to get into the game.
Fullback Ben Ellis was switched to the left-flank and began combining well with Matt Lewis out wide and Jordan Simpson and Brian Vanega in midfield for more possession.
But it was Bankstown who continued to create the scoring chances, James Monie shot over the bar and a goal bound shot from Robert Mileski was blocked by the scrambling Demons defence.
Just before half-time Bankstown was awarded a penalty when Robert Mileski was adjudged to have been held back by the defence on the edge of the six-yard box. Phillip Makrys stepped up and confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0 going into the break.
Blacktown started the second-half with renewed vigour and determination to get back into the game. But their chances took a dive in the 49? minute when George Nohra combined with Mileski to set-up James Monie who crashed his shot across the advancing keeper to extend Bankstown City?s lead to 3-0.
Blacktown had to push players forward in search of a goal and this left them vulnerable at the back. The home-side grabbed virtually an unassailable 4-0 lead in the 66? minute when more pressure from the midfield forced another unforced error as a stray back pass went straight to the ever dangerous Mileski, who turned and ran at goal and slotted the ball coolly past Ivan Necevski.
Although Blacktown never gave up in search of a goal, Ken Schembri?s men knew the game had gotten away from them. Ben Ellis lobbed the ball over the bar from close-range and Zlatko Joseski saved well from Leo Carle.
But the Demons did not create enough genuine scoring chances to draw any real confidence from their performance. This will disappoint Ken Schembri and his side whose team has made a steady improvement since the start of the season.
At the end of the game player/coach Peter Tsekenis was glad the goal drought had come to an end and was rueful about the kind of good fortune that had been absent for them this season.
He said that last season was much simpler, if they played well they?d have won the game and if they played poorly they?d have lost, but this year their performances were not matching the results and hinted that today?s game could be the kick start they need for the rest of the season.
MATCH STATS
Bankstown Lions 4 (James Monie 3?, 50?, Phillip Makrys 43?, Robert Mileski 70?)
Blacktown Demons 0
Venue: Jensen Park
Crowd: Approx 700
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistants: Greg McLoughlin, Scott Edeling
Fourth Official: Cameron Bruce
Bankstown City Lions: 1. Zlatko Joseski; 3. Shane Webb, 4. Brett Studman, 5. Richard Luksic, 6. Peter Tsekenis (2. Ibrahim Haydar 85?), 7. Stefanos Liavas, 8. George Nohra (99. Bascui 76?), 9. James Monie (36. Matthew Borg 68?), 10. Robert Mileski, 11. Phillip Makrys, 16. Tayfun Devrimol.
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Andrew Bazi, 29. Daniel Slaveski
Blacktown City Demons: 1. Ivan Necevski; 2. Matthew Pressello (14. Tim Rasmussen 8?), 3. Paul Karbon, 4. Daniel Wilkinson, 6. Ken Chun (11. Nick Rouco 55?), 8. Chris Bedzo, 13. Ben Ellis, 16. Adam Biddle, 19. Brian Vanega, 25. Jordan Simpson, 29. Matthew Lewis (10. Leo Carle 64?)
Substitutes Not Used: 5. Gavin Forbes, 20. Matt Nemes
Yellow Cards: Peter Tsekenis, Stefanos Liavas, James Monie (BC)
Daniel Wilkinson, Chris Bedzo, Jordan Simpson, Leo Carle (BCD)
Player Ratings:
3 – Robert Mileski (BC)
2 – Shane Webb (BC)
1 – George Nohra (BC)
-By Peter Davies
