Blacktown City FC book grand final berth with 4-0 thumping of White Eagles

With Blacktown City striker Tolgay Ozbey ruled out before the match with a hamstring injury, Bonnyrigg would have been confident of booking a grand final berth with a win at home ? but it wasn?t to be.
A first-half double to Joel Chianese sunk the hopes of the White Eagles, who now face a sudden death showdown with the winner of Sunday?s Sydney United-APIA Leichhardt elimination semi-final.
Blacktown City FC will welcome back the suspended Matthew Pressello and Brody Crane for the grand final, both missing at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday.
Despite Bonnyrigg controlling the tempo in the opening exchanges, it was Blacktown who gate-crashed the home-side?s party with a goal after just 6? minutes.
From a White Eagles corner, the ball was cleared to the other end, setting up a one-on-one situation between Bonnyrigg defender Kengo Takushima and the oncoming Chianese.
Takushima won the mid-air challenge, but his header towards Phillip Zabaks lacked power, allowing Chianese to latch on to the loose ball and chip the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty-area.
The stunned crowd were back on their feet moments later when a defensive blunder in the Blacktown City defence put an unmarked Nathan Elasi on goal. But the striker squandered a golden opportunity to equalise, sending his shot straight into the oncoming gloveman Justin Biega.
With several big names missing, the visitors showed no sign of hesitation and could have doubled their lead on 15? minutes, but Jordan Simpson?s curling shot narrowly missed its target.
A free-kick from the sideline provided Bonnyrigg with a chance to register their first, but Wade Oostendorp?s mistimed dive at the far post saw Daniel Severino?s free-kick travel away for a goal kick.
The visitors came to life in the latter stages of the first period and were almost rewarded when the ball found Jamie McMaster unmarked in the penalty-area from a corner.
The number 19 tried to guide his shot into the bottom right hand corner, but an outstretched Biega did well to tap the ball away from danger.
The White Eagles were left to rue their missed opportunity as the visitors exploited a weak Bonnyrigg defence just moments later to make it 2-0. Travis Major found some space down the right flank and did well to cross a ball into the far post, allowing Chianese to tap home for his double and silence the Bonnyrigg faithful.
The second-half began with a goalkeeping error from Biega that saw the ball spill to McMaster at the far post, but somehow McMaster missed his intended target and sent his close-range shot into the stands.
Like they did in the first-half, Blacktown City hit straight back with an attacking raid of their own in the 52? minute. Mitch Long made his way into the penalty area and attracted several Bonnyrigg defenders, creating enough space for Jordan Simpson in the middle to control and thump the ball into the back of the net.
The White Eagles made several attacking substitutions, but it was all to no avail.
Severino tried to regain some respect with his long-range free kick, but not even a deflection could deter Biega who again denied the home-side with a brilliant save.
At the other end, the Bonnyrigg defence was capitulating, allowing Chris Bedzo to run into the penalty area and guide his shot past the advancing Zabaks to seal the 4-0 victory.
Blacktown City coach Aytek Genc was over the moon with his side?s domination:
?Bonnyrigg played really well in the first-half and they really troubled us,? he said.
?But I?m proud of the way we played, the boys executed the game plan so I?m pretty happy.?
While Genc was thrilled to book a grand final berth, the Blacktown City mentor said the job wasn?t finished just yet:
?The grand final means everything,? he said.
?A lot of the boys haven?t played in a grand final before.
?It?s a special occasion but it means nothing if we don?t win it.?
In the opposition sheds, Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown was a shattered man after the devastating loss:
?Losing the early goal made it tough and we were forced to play counter attacking football,? he said.
?We had enough chances, but we just didn?t take them.?
Brown was reluctant to blame the loss on the week off and was looking forward to avenging the result next week:
?We have to be real positive,? he said.
?We have been the best team all year and we have to show that next week.?
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Blacktown City FC 4 (Joel Chianese 6?, 38?, Jordan Simpson 52?, Chris Bedzo 87?)
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg Heights
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Crowd: 1500 Approx.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 99.Phillip Zabaks; 2.Paul Cotte, 19.Jamie McMaster, 14.Kengo Takushima (17.David Gullo 55?), 8.Milorad Simonovic (4.W.Al-Rikaby 62?), 12.Chris Tadrosse, 10.Daniel Severino, 11.Shane Webb, 15.Nathan Elasi, 9.Brad Boardman, 20.Wade Oostendorp (16.D.Laiman 81?)
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Grahame Forbes, 1.Ali Akbal
Yellow Cards: Daniel Severino 24?, Shane Webb 47?
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City FC: 1.Justin Biega; 4.Marko Jurilj, 2.Tyler Simpson (8.Chris Bedzo 85?), 5.Luka Dukic, 7.Luke Roodenberg, 18.Travis Major, 17.Joel Chianese, 23.Luke Austin, 9.Kain Rastall (16. Ante Deur 75?), 11.Mitch Long, 10.Jordan Simpson (12.Bernie Ibini 72?)
Substitutes Not Used: 60. David Bradesvic, 22.Zac Cairncross.
Yellow Cards: Kain Rastall 25?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Joel Chianese (BCD)
2 ? Jordan Simpson (BCD)
1 ? Justin Biega (BCD)
-By Michael Chammas