White Eagles march on in tough struggle
Brad Boardman returned to his old stomping ground for the first time since leaving the Sharks at the end of last season and could have given the White Eagles the lead after only 4? minutes when a rare slip by the Sharks defence on the greasy surface presented the towering striker the chance to prod home. Nathan Denham though, was off his line sharply to semi-smother the ball and the defence cleared off the line as the visitors pushed hard with Milan Zoric seeing his effort blocked away for a corner 2? minutes later in a goalmouth scramble that also saw Boardman have another effort blocked.
Bonnyrigg were in the ascendancy early and applied plenty of pressure, but against the run of play the Sharks were almost in front when Blake Powell sent over a testing cross from a Chris Price through ball that Ben Vidaic headed powerfully toward the net only to see Ali Akbal save on the line at full stretch without spilling the ball from almost point-blank range.
Shane Webb and Jim Bakis received early talks from referee Ryan Shepherd as the hefty tackling was in danger of escalating but the official kept a tight lid on things and the match continued at a frenetic pace in heavy conditions.
It was hard and fast paced before Shane Webb finally broke the deadlock in the 25? minute with a wonder strike from the edge of the box that left Denham no chance, which was little more than their play deserved.
Jablonski played Vidaic through with a glorious pass but the striker?s first touch was too strong and the opportunity disappeared as quickly as it was fashioned as the Sharks began to peg the White Eagles back.
Akbal dealt with the sporadic crosses from the Sharks but was powerless when Chris Price sent one over to the back stick that Jimmy Bakis hit on the half-volley back across goal straight at Vidaic who had no time to react as another chance went begging late in the half. Blake Powell then headed wide as the Sharks finished the stanza stronger although still a goal down as they headed to the change rooms at the break.
Sutherland came out firing and Bakis was unlucky to see his long-range shot tipped away, again a full stretch dive, by the impressive Akbal as Bonnyrigg found themselves on the ropes, if not exactly wobbling, with the Sharks taking their turn at applying the pressure and pinning the White Eagles back to hit on the break. With a swift ball over the top and it wasn?t long before Souris and Milorad Simonovic found themselves in the book after coming together.
Michael Brown replaced David Gullo as Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown rang the changes as the tackles became heavier and Blake Powell entered the book for his transgression as the battle hotted up.
It was also a debut for former J-League player Kengo Takushima who was snapped up by the club during the week and he made his presence felt by earning himself a caution for a tackle.
White Eagles? goalkeeper Akbal was forced into a fingertip save as Stavroulakis tried his luck from 25-yards out but still Sutherland couldn?t find the breakthrough they needed to reclaim parity against the table toppers. As the visitors sat deeper as the game wore on the Sharks were presented with enough decent chances to do so but after five corners in a row deep into stoppage time, Jablonski thought he had secured a point at least. In the goalmouth melee that ensued, a free-kick was awarded although moments before Ben Spruce rose high to meet a header but couldn?t put it on target before the final whistle blew.
Sharks coach Robbie Stanton said after:
?We didn?t handle the start from Bonnyrigg well and played a little too deep but they played as we expected they would and they are top of the table because of it.
?We were never outplayed tonight but it was a very competitive game and the yellow card situation could come back to haunt us a little in the next few weeks as we are getting down to bare bones in the squad with injuries, cautions and the like.
?The biggest disappointment is that we simply didn?t take our chances tonight but our slow start really did let us down tonight.
?Take nothing away from Bonnyrigg, they are a tough team and play good football.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown was humble but happy when adding:
?That was a tough game yet we didn?t expect anything else here because Sutherland are always tough to get anything from at home but the goal was typical of the ones we have been scoring lately.
?The build up play was fantastic and what can you say about a finish like that from Shane Webb?
?I told the players not to chase the game in second-half and the way the Sharks started it I wondered if I had made the right choice but at the final whistle it appears to we made the correct one because we only had the chance to train just the once this week due to the weather so I have to be happy we come away with the three points.
?I said to the guys after the match that it?s another three points closer to our goal and reminded them we need to keep our focus.?
The Grade-20 Grade match finished scoreless in a most hard fought and entertaining contest.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Shane Webb 25?)
Saturday June 5th, 2010
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Ryan Shepherd
Assistant Referees: Alex Glasgow and Lance Greenshields
Fourth Official: Brendan Johanson
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 4.Michael Robinson, 6.Chris Price, 7.Jimmy Bakis, 8.Blake Powell, 9.Ben Vidaic (22.Yianni Fragogiannis 65?), 11.Ben Spruce, 12.Neil Jablonski, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 20.Paul Kohler
Substitutes Not Used: 10.Stephen McConologue, 16.Jimmy Lawrence, 31.Hussein Jasli, 24.Jack Duncan
Yellow Cards: Souris 57?, Powell 59?
Red Cards: Nil
Bonnyrigg white Eagles: 1.Ali Akbal; 2.Paul Cotte, 5.Milan Zoric, 7.Nikola Zonjic (14.Kengo Takushima 76?), 9.Brad Boardman (15.Nathan Elasi 82?), 8.Milorad Simonovic, 17.David Gullo (4.Michael Brown 56?), 10.Daniel Severino, 11.Shane Webb, 19.Jamie McMaster, 20.Wade Oostendorp
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Graeme Forbes, 90.Nenad Vekic
Yellow Cards: Simonovic 57?, Boardman 75?, Takushima 83?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Micky Brock
