White Eagles notch up first victory for 2011
The match was highlighted by two goalkeeping blunders, the latter coming from Rockdale?s Dion Shaw in the 87? minute to give the White Eagles the victory.
Despite Bonnyrigg finishing the match with just nine men, a first-half goal to Nathan Elasi proved the difference, giving the home side a much-needed three competition points.
Inclement weather may have dampened the outfield, but there was nothing dull about the opening to this match. It took just 2? minutes for Rockdale to leave their mark on the game, but they should have been playing from in front.
Sash Tirovski did well to latch on to a pin-point accurate chip over the Bonnyrigg defence, but was unable to direct his close-range shot past Phillip Zabaks.
Zabaks? effort inspired his front men, who immediately went on an attacking raid of their own.
A quickly taken Tynan Diaz free-kick was whipped across the face of goal towards an unmarked Jamie McMaster, but the no.19?s header hit the far post, allowing the Suns to clear from danger.
When Ben Spruce brought James Monie down on the edge of the penalty-area, Hsuki Hasegana stepped up in the hope of beating the eight-man Bonnyrigg wall.
Hasegana?s free-kick forced Zabaks to dive out to his left, but the curling shot sailed just wide of the post.
The first goal of the match arrived in bizarre fashion – a moment Zabaks will be hoping to erase from his memory.
An unintentional back pass from Michael Robinson forced Zabaks off his line but the goalkeeper only got a slight touch to the ball, turning in agony as the ball trickled into the back of his own net to give Rockdale a 1-0 lead after 18? minutes.
The White Eagles hit back 9? minutes later with a quality team goal. A Bonnyrigg cross found Jamie McMaster at the far post, who headed the ball back towards the centre of the goal. Nathan Elasi was at the right place at the right time, getting his head to the ball to send it into the back of the net to equalise in the 27? minute.
The Suns had an opportunity to take back the lead just 8? minutes out from half-time, but Shay Spitz? driving shot from outside the box was thwarted by a diving Zabaks.
In the 45? minute the visitors were awarded a free-kick on the halfway line.
Hasegana?s free-kick was given plenty of air, allowing Ashkin Oygur enough time to position himself and head towards goal. Only the diving efforts of Zabaks, who after making a horrible blunder was doing well to redeem himself, denied the Suns their second.
Bonnyrigg then turned defence into attack and almost capitalised on a lapse of concentration from Peter Apoleski, but Suns goalkeeper Dion Shaw came off his line to ensure the score remained 1-1 at half-time.
The White Eagles were rejuvenated in the second-half and created the bulk of the early chances.
McMaster?s mistimed shot went across the face of goal towards the oncoming Nathan Elasi, but the former Melbourne Victory striker was unable to get boot to ball.
A goal-mouth scramble almost gave Bonnyrigg their second of the night, but the Suns? scrambling defence prevailed.
With the game hanging in the balance, Bonnyrigg?s Nikola Zonjic was given his marching orders for a violent confrontation with James Monie, leaving Bonnyrigg with 10-men for the last 25? minutes.
Daniel Severino came off the bench midway through the second period and was given a chance to leave his mark on the match when the White Eagles were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Despite his best efforts, Severino?s curling shot sailed just over the crossbar.
A minute later he was again in the thick of the action but his mid-air side kick trickled wide of the post.
With the game destined to be heading for a draw, another goal-keeping blunder ? this time from the Suns custodian – handed the White Eagles the victory in the 87? minute.
A Severino corner appeared to hit the hand of a Suns defender, allowing the Bonnyrigg players the chance to yell and let their case be known – it was Tynan Diaz who got the last touch of the ball to record the White Eagles three precious points.
In the midst of the pleas and the likelihood of a penalty being awarded, Suns keeper Dion Shaw watched the ball slowly dribble into the back of the net to hand the White Eagles their maiden victory of the season.
Shane Webb was given his second yellow for bringing down a player in the dying moments but it didn?t impact on the result.
Suns coach Lee Sterrey was left to rue his side?s missed opportunities:
?We had at least five 100 percent chances in the match,? Sterrey said.
?But our execution in the front third is not good enough.?
The former Marconi coach was far from impressed with the way his side handled playing against 10-men.
?We didn?t push on,? Sterrey said.
?I?ve seen 10 men beat 11 before and they really stepped up to the plate and kept going and going.
?At least six times we were on the break in the second-half with a four-on-three or a three-on-three and our last pass and execution was terrible.?
In the home shed coach Brian Brown was in a better mood:
?I was very happy, especially considering we finished the game with 9-men,?
?To be honest I thought it was going to be one of those hard nights before the game started.
?I went and watched Rockdale last week and I knew they?d play five at the back and I was hoping the field would be quick enough to let us play our game.
?I was happy with the way the boys played? the effort was there and so was the commitment.?
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Nathan Elasi 27?, Tynan Diaz 87?)
Rockdale City Suns 1 (Michael Robinson (og) 18?)
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg Heights
Saturday April 30th, 2011
Crowd: 600 Approx.
Referee: Ryan Shepheard
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo & Thomas Lee
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 99.Phil Zabaks; 3.Nikola Zonjic, 12.Tako Murayama (10.Daniel Severino 59?), 5. Chris Tadrosse, 6.Ben Spruce, 7.Nathan Elasi (8.Alex Canak 61?), 9.Brad Boardman, 11.Shane Webb, 17.Michael Robinson, 19.Jamie McMaster, 23.Tynan Diaz.
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Andrew Bazi, 4.Wade Oostendorp, 16.David Vrankovic
Yellow Cards: Shane Webb 44?, 90?+3?, Tynan Diaz 54?
Red Cards: Nikola Zonjic 66?, Shane Webb 90?+3?
Rockdale City Suns: 22.Dion Shaw, 13.Giorgio Speranza, 23.Ashkin Oygur, 10.Sash Trajcevski, 7.Pece Apoleski, 14.Hsuki Hasegana, 8.Dominic Hudap, 3.Shay Spitz (5. Jeffrey Issa 56?), 21.Mirko Jurilj, 18.James Monie (19.Marino Musumeci 72?), 17.Sash Tirovski (9.Jason Naidovski 56?)
Substitutes Not Used: 11.Adem Kir, 1.Ben McNamara
Yellow Cards: Dominic Hudap 61?, James Monie 66?, Musumeci 75?, Naidovski 80?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Jamie McMaster (BWE)
2 ? James Monie (RCS)
1 ? Chris Tadrosse (BWE)
-By Michael Chammas
