White Eagles send out warning to opposition

Reduced to 10 men midway through the first-half, the White Eagles came from 1-0 down to clinch a 2-1 victory in front of a vocal crowd at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre.
The Wolves were looking to erase the scars of a dreadful 2009 campaign and almost drew first blood when Andrew Paine found himself in space down the White Eagles? left-side defence.
Paine?s cross looked destined to be tapped in by a charging Jason Trifiro, but Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Phillip Zabaks was equal to the task, racing off his line to thwart the Wolves attack and dent the visitors of the opener.
In an exciting opening to the round one clash, the White Eagles weren?t about to be undone by their South Coast rivals on home soil.
Brad Boardman didn?t take long to make his presence felt, supplying the ball that allowed Daniel Severino the chance to unleash a right-footed shot at goal which was saved by the diving efforts of Wolves shot-stopper Brody Crane.
When Nikola Zonjic found Boardman with some space in the box, the White Eagles had a golden chance to register the opener, but a brilliant save from close-range by Crane denied the home side yet again.
Crane?s heroics between the sticks inspired his troops at the other end, and it didn?t take long for the Wolves to exploit the White Eagles defence.
Andrew Paine latched on to a through ball to find himself one-on-one with Phillip Zabaks, weaving his way around the former Tigers? keeper before Paul Cotte rushed in to close things down.
Cotte?s desperate tackle may have ended Paine?s run, but it was also the end of his night, with referee Adam Weir left with no choice but to present a red card – Bonnyrigg?s second opening round send-off in as many years.
Paine stepped up to the penalty spot and sent Zabaks in the opposite direction, slotting home the Wolves? first goal of the season in the 22? minute.
In an effort to avoid a repeat of last season?s opening round loss with 10-men, the White Eagles continued to press forward and were rewarded with a goal of their own just 10? out from half-time.
A curling free-kick from Jamie McMaster proved difficult for the Wolves? Lisandro Berbis to handle, heading home an own goal in the 35? minute and inviting the home-side back into the match.
With the crowd behind them, the White Eagles struck again just 5? later to hit the lead in spectacular fashion.
A stunning left-footed free kick from Daniel Severino curved its way past a diving Brody Crane and into the top right-hand corner, making an early claim for goal of the season.
When the players came out for the second-half, it was Zabaks who matched Crane?s first-half efforts, thwarting several Wolves opportunities in the opening minutes of the period.
The Wolves appeared to have equalised in the 61? minute from a free-kick, only for the offside flag to deny the visitors.
Still riding on the high of his first-half stunner, Severino was given a second opportunity to find the back of the net when the White Eagles were awarded a free-kick on the corner of the 18-yard box.
Severino?s left footed shot beat the wall for a second time, though a diving Crane managed to hold out the White Eagles? new recruit.
But Severino couldn?t be kept out of the action, finding the head of Graham Forbes with his corner.
It took some desperate on-line defence from the Wolves to prevent the White Eagles from extending their lead, again preventing the home-side from finding the back of the net.
The Wolves tried hard to find an equaliser but when they were reduced to 10-men in the 80? minute, any hopes of snaring a point were gone.
Wolves coach Trevor Morgan was happy with his troops? efforts despite the one goal defeat:
?We?re not rubbish,? Morgan said.
?We showed we can play with the good sides and play some good football.
?The boys are just frustrated because our decision making at times led to going from 1-0 up to 2-1 down in 15 minutes.
?There?s plenty of people who can score goals but the final execution today didn?t drop for us.?
In the opposition shed, Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown was pleased to come away with the three points with only 10-men for most of the match.
?We had a player sent off and they got a goal from it but we made a little change and the guys stuck to the plan, worked their socks off and we scored two great goals,? Brown said.
?I could sense a real aggression in the way we fought today.
?We have a team full of ability and they made some smart decisions that won us the game.?
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Own goal (Lisandro Berbis) 35?, Daniel Severino 40?)
South Coast Wolves 1 (Andrew Paine 22?)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg Heights
Referee: Adam Weir
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo and Matt Sampson
Fourth Official: Brendan Johansen
Crowd: Approx 1000
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 20.Phillip Zabaks; 7.Nikola Zonjic, 2.Paul Cotte, 4.Michael Brown, 11.Shane Webb (8.Milorad Simonovic 64?), 10.Daniel Severino, 19.Jamie McMaster, 9.Bradley Boardman (16.Stefan Heleta 71?), 3.Graham Forbes, 17.David Gullo (13.Juan Chaves 75?), 6.Vuko Tomasevic
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Ali Akbal, 5.Milan Zoric.
Yellow Cards: Vuko Tomasevic 51?, Nikola Zonjic 51?, Michael Brown 74?
Red Cards: Paul Cotte 21?
South Coast Wolves: 1.Brody Crane, 17.Tynan Diaz, 2.Alex Mansueto, 4.Dave Abel, 5.Nick McInerney, 6.Lisandro Berbis, 7.Andy Keep (16.Kieran Deane 61?), 8.Tayfun Buyukkopru (9.Mark Picciolini 69?), 19.Ken Chun, 10.Jason Trifiro, 11.Andrew Paine
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Bryce Daenell, 3.Greg Valic.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Mark Picciolini 80?
Player Ratings:
3 – Daniel Severino (BWE)
2 – Jamie McMaster (BWE)
1 – Ken Chun (SCW)
-By Michael Chammas