Blacktown City no match for high flying White Eagles

The White Eagles scored twice in the final 10? minutes to seal the victory at Bonnyrigg Sports Club, keeping their unbeaten home record intact while for Blacktown it was yet another disappointing result after being dumped out of the McDonald’s Cup in their semi-final loss to Super League outfit Spirit FC last Tuesday.
In the opening exchanges, both sides failed to create any real chances, opting to dictate terms by controlling possession.
The White Eagles were using the full width of the field, but were unable to find an opening in the resilient Demons defence.
The boys from Blacktown had several opportunities to snare a goal from set pieces, but the Bonnyrigg defence scrambled well to thwart their attacking raids.
A rash challenge from Luke Roodenberg saw Daniel Severino step up for a free-kick within striking distance, but unfortunately for the home-side, his shot went wide of the near post.
After the ball went from end-to-end in the opening passages, it was the White Eagles who settled into their rhythm late in the first-half, controlling possession well to set up camp at the Blacktown end.
But despite the overwhelming percentage of ball, the White Eagles struggled to land the killer blow as the visitors? defence proved impregnable.
Nathan Elasi had a chance to capitalise on the mountain of possession his side had in the first-half, but desperate cover defence from the Demons ensured the scores would remain locked up at 0-0 at the break.
When Blacktown returned for the second period, they began looking like a whole new team.
Roodenberg and Tolgay Ozbey were proving difficult for the White Eagles to contain, continually pushing forward in an effort to break the deadlock.
It took 58? minutes, but the White Eagles finally found their way through the Blacktown defence when Shane Webb found an unmarked Brad Boardman in the box. The number nine failed to control his first touch and was unable to get an accurate shot on target.
Moments later the White Eagles were again pushing forward courtesy of Boardman.
The striker set up Severino with a golden opportunity to open the account, but Matt Ryan?s brilliant diving save denied the White Eagles momentarily.
Ryan tapped the ball straight into the direction of Boardman, but the former Sutherland striker failed to hit an open goal from close range.
At the other end, Luke Austin tried his best to upset the home fans with a stunning free-kick, but Ali Akbal matched his opposite?s efforts, denying Blacktown City with an important save at the crossbar.
Nikola Zonjic looked like showing the front men how to get the job done, but a desperate Matt Ryan again denied his shot.
After a dour first-half, the game came to life in the second period, setting up an exciting final 25? minutes.
Milorad Simonovic added his name to the list of unsuccessful Bonnyrigg shooters, missing the net by the narrowest of margins with his curving shot from outside the box.
Tolgay Ozbey turned defence into attack and looked like capitalising on the counter, but his shot also sailed just wide of the intended target in the 77? minute.
But finally, after a plethora of opportunities, the White Eagles struck.
A perfectly weighted cross from Jamie McMaster allowed Melbourne Victory striker Nathan Elasi to head home the match winner in the 81? minute.
Blacktown?s chances of snaring a late equaliser were diminished when Kain Rastall received two yellow cards in 3? minutes to earn an early shower.
Elasi rubbed salt into the Demons wounds when his square ball found a charging Boardman in the middle to give the White Eagles a 2-0 victory.
Coach Brian Brown, who described Blacktown as Bonnyrigg?s biggest rival, was delighted to take three-points from the match and is now eyeing his first piece of silverware at the club:
?Our number one aim when we came to Bonnyrigg was to win something,? he said.
?The first thing you can win is the minor premiership and that?s our goal.
?If we win that then the next thing is to get to the grand final.?
While Brown was reluctant to talk up his side?s premiership hopes, he believes his team has the opportunity to create something special over the next few years:
?This team?s got potential,? he said.
?I think next year we can build on this and build a team that will be successful for quite a few years.?
Blacktown coach Aytek Genc was in good spirits after the match and commended his side for their performance:
?I?m really proud of the way we played against the top team in the competition,? he said.
?We defended really well and we counter-attacked pretty well too.
?It was one of those games where you lose but you take the positives out of it.?
Blacktown City FC now sit in fourth position and are in danger of slipping out of the top five with important matches against Marconi Stallions, Sutherland Sharks, Sydney United and Bankstown City remaining.
In the Grade-20 match, Blacktown City FC defeated Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-0.
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Nathan Elasi 81?, Brad Boardman 89?)
Blacktown City FC 0
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg Heights
Referee: Kurt Ams.
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Tom Lee.
Fourth Official: Nick Tragoustis.
Crowd: 1000 Approx.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1.Ali Akbal; 7.Nikola Zonjic, 2.Paul Cotte, 20.Wade Oostendorp, 12.Chris Tadrosse, 19.Jamie McMaster, 8.Milorad Simonovic, 11.Shane Webb (4.Michael Brown 90?), 10.Daniel Severino, 15.Nathan Elasi, 9.Brad Boardman
Substitutes Not Used: 14.KengoTakushima, 3.Graeme Forbes, 16.Stephan Heleta, 90.Nenad Vekic
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City FC: 20.Matt Ryan; 4.Mirko Jurilj, 5.Luka Dukic (12.Bernie Ibini 84?), 7.Luke Roodenberg, 9.Kain Rastall, 16.Ante Deur, 17.Joel Chianese, 18.Travis Major, 19.Tolgay Ozbey, 22.Zac Cairncross, 23.Luke Austin
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Justin Biega, 3.Daniel Wilkinson, 6.Matt Pressello, 8.Chris Bedzo.
Yellow Cards: Luke Roodenberg 30?, Luke Austin 48?, Kain Rastall 83? + 85?
Red Cards: Kain Rastall 85?
-By Michael Chammas