Blacktown City secure first home win of the season
Led by the exploits of Chris Bedzo and Ante Deur, the Demons overturned a 0-1 deficit midway through the first-half, condemning the Sydney Tigers to bottom-spot on the ladder.
In only the 1? minute of play Sydney Tigers? Robert Younis squandered an enormous chance to hit his side ahead. The Demons defenders were caught napping as an innocuous searching ball from the left-flank picked out the unmarked Younis who saw his shot, from point-blank range, diverted for a corner by goalkeeper Michael Herbert.
Blacktown City replied on 7? minutes following a fine interchange of passes between Ben Ellis and Ante Deur; the latter?s effort from distance lacked conviction and was easy pickings for Phil Zabaks in the Tigers goal.
Ellis went close to the opening goal with a much more convincing Demons forward foray moments later. The talented attacking midfielder cleverly created a yard of space on the edge of the penalty-area to unleash a potent left-foot effort; his shot was diverted for a corner.
On 17? minutes, Sydney Tigers hit the lead courtesy of a swift counter-attacking move. A loose pass in the middle of the park allowed the Tigers to release Robbie Younis on the left-flank; the tall striker?s speed and strength ? matched by an exceptional ball cut back across goal ? picked out Danial Cummins who in-turn played the role of decoy, allowing Stephen Kayes with all the time needed to slot the ball into the top left-hand corner.
Demons goalkeeper Herbert kept his side only a goal behind minutes later, when Younis again snuck-in behind the home-side?s defence. Herbert was quick off his line and bravely saved at the striker?s feet.
A clever turn by Franco Parisi on 29? minutes allowed the skillful striker the chance to unleash a fierce drive on goal from twenty-five metres; the final effort finished over Herbert?s crossbar.
The home-side, despite the one-goal deficit, managed to conger up some clever passing out of midfield ? led mostly by the ever-reliable Ben Ellis and Chris Bedzo ? though the final pass seemed lacking.
This was the case until the 31?minute when Bedzo put his body on the line to convert his diving header from close-range and score the Demons first home goal of the season. A perfectly timed challenge by Akwasi Agyei saw the right-sided midfielder dispossess Michael West before unleashing a venomous drive against the under-side of Zabaks? crossbar. Bedzo reacted quickest to send his header into the back of the net.
Akwasi Agyei almost brought the crowd to its feet on 41? minutes as he unleashed another pile-driver from the right-side of the penalty-area; the effort though skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Franco Parisi forced Herbert into a fine save down to his left following another ?slalom? effort by the Tigers number 10. Parisi skipped past three defenders before picking out the bottom right-hand corner with his attempt; Herbert did well to capture the ball at the second attempt.
Following the break, the Demons threw caution to the wind with a series of ventures up the right-flank. Despite the speed of the home-side?s ball movement, the Tigers defence was unyielding.
On 52? minutes Younis forced Herbert into a fine save following a swerving free-kick from the edge of the penalty-area. The effort seemed destined to finish inside the near post, though Herbert was at full stretch to ensure the scores remained level.
Ray Miller went close for the Demons just after the hour when he latched onto a searching long-ball from Paul Karbon. Miller?s first touch was world class, though some tough defending prevented the speedy midfielder from getting a shot away on goal.
Blacktown City did take the lead shortly after courtesy of former Marconi Stallions midfielder Ante Deur. A swerving effort from Chris Bedzo was brilliantly parried onto his left-hand post by Philip Zabaks; Ante Deur was on hand to pick up the rebound and drive the ball under Zabaks for the lead.
Zabaks kept his side in the match moments later as Joel Chianese beat the off-side trap to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Zabaks showed his experience as he stood tall and made a routine save off the young Demons midfielder.
Blacktown City was extremely unlucky not to add to their one-goal lead on 72? minutes following a tantalising one-two inside the penalty-area between Bedzo and substitute Kain Rastall. Rastall found a yard of space to toe-poke an effort on goal though could only find the post as the chance went begging.
The Demons defenders seemed content to sit back in the closing stages, hitting the Tigers on the counter-attack via the quick legs of Bedzo upfront. Despite the Tigers penetrating their opponents defence, Parisi & Co. were limited to long-range efforts that were expertly dealt with by Herbert.
Sydney Tigers were handed a final chance on 90? minutes, a free-kick on the left touch-line taken by Kayes. The midfielder?s swerved effort failed to pick out a teammate, and the Demons comfortably ground out the result in injury-time.
Blacktown City Demons boss Ken Schembri expressed his content at the result:
?I am very happy with the win, though we could have really scored a couple more goals in the match,? commented Schembri.
?Our boys are starting to gel together, though we still are a little na?ve at times with some poor decisions made on the field. Tonight I am happy for the win, though we should have really killed off the match earlier.
?To come back from a goal down is extremely pleasing,? Schembri concluded.
The Sydney Tigers disappointing start to the season continued, though some promising signs did arise from the loss at Blacktown City. Franco Parisi commented following the match:
?We?re disappointed with the final result, however there were some positive signs for us tonight as we managed to move the ball around quite well and create some good chances.
?Unfortunately, we are a little behind at the moment. The different formations we have tried in recent weeks have shown us improving. I think we should have been at this level in pre-season.
?Nothing is lost, as many teams have dropped points up to this point. With a couple of wins we could be right back up there challenging,? Parisi ended.
In the Grade 20 division, Blacktown City Demons ran out convincing winners with an emphatic 6-2 defeat of the Tigers. A goal haul by Gavin Forbes set-up the win for the Demons, on an extremely warm afternoon for the players involved. The win increases the Demons Grade 20 title aspirations as the side sits at the top end of the League ladder.
Match Stats
Blacktown City Demons 2 (Chris Bedzo 31?, Ante Deur 62?)
Sydney Tigers 1 (Stephen Kayes 17?)
Sunday, 29th March, 2009
Gabbie Stadium, Blacktown
Referee: James Lewis
Assistant Referees: Daniel Dewhurst & Nick Backo
Blacktown City Demons: 1.Michael Herbert; 2.Tyler Simpson, 3.Paul Karbon, 4.Damien Foxe (c), 6.Luke Casserly, 8.Chris Bedzo (11.Nick Sama 86?), 10. Luke Austin, 13 Ben Ellis (15.Ray Miller 38?), 16.Ante Deur, 17.Joel Chianese, 18.Akwasi Agyei (9.Kain Rastall 63?)
Substitutes Not Used: 40 Brody Crane
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Tigers: 99.Phillip Zabaks; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.John Kelso, 15.Danial Cummins (C), 4.Daniel Clifford (18.Bishara Stephan 77?), 12.Michael West, 16.Michael Hawrysiuk, 7.Stephen Kayes, 10.Franco Parisi, 6.Shane Lyons (8.Marino Musumeci 82?), 9.Robert Younis
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Giancarlo Papapaini, 13.Stefan Donevski, 24.Jason Trifiro
Yellow Cards: Shane Lyons 20?, Michael West 85?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Chris Bedzo (BCD)
2 ? Ante Deur (BCD)
1 ? Franco Parisi (ST)
-By Joseph Carlucci
