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Bonnyrigg make it four from four with Manly scalp

20 Apr 2012

Two first-half goals, in almost identical fashion, to Tynan Diaz and Harris Gaitatzis set up the win, before Colin Iley re-opened proceedings midway through the second-half. In-form striker Robbie Younis closed off the contest shortly after via the penalty-spot with his sixth goal of the campaign on an evening that saw coach Brian Brown hand 15-year old Nikola Todoroski his debut for Bonnyrigg.
The visitors entered the game without a number of regular starters due to injury, including Roberto Hamad and Sean Bowden, meanwhile the home side lost Mitchell Long early due to a groin strain.
Manly United had early penalty claims ignored by the referee following Scott Balderson?s quick corner. The right-sided midfielder picked out Chris Payne who showed great skill, and speed, to venture into the penalty-area before going to ground after some contact with a Bonnyrigg defender.
At the other end, Ken Chun won his side a free-kick on the edge of the penalty-area following a magnificent slalom effort by Nikola Stanojevic.
Robbie Younis lined up the free-kick and his attempt on goal only just shaved goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell?s right-hand post.
The visitors showed they had no intention of sitting back and continued to press with Balderson and Colin Iley looking dangerous out of midfield. The latter only just played Balderson offside with a clever diagonal pass on 9? minutes.
On 15? minutes, Payne showed further more why he is one of the gun strikers of the competition with a decent attempt on goal. The striker wiggled his way past two defenders before unleashing an effort on goal. The shot carried a lot of power, though failed to test Ben McNamara with a wayward attempt.
Iley then forced McNamara off his line 2? minutes later as he chased down a searching ball from deep ? McNamara read the situation perfectly with a brave save down at the Manly United midfielder?s feet.
In the 20? minute, Younis showed all his strength inside the penalty-area as he collected Chris Tadrosse?s delivery from the left. Despite the heavy attention of two defenders, Younis still managed to turn before striking the outside of the post from an acute angle.
Manly United?s shot-stopper Mitchell was called upon 2? minutes later as he thwarted a Jordan Simpson attempt inside the penalty-area with a lunging save down at the tall striker?s feet.
Bonnyrigg found their go-ahead goal in the 24? minute via the head of Diaz. The midfielder, who had been heavily involved in the match, sent his headed attempt into the top right-hand corner past the outstretched arm of Mitchell. The floated effort could not have been placed any better, much to the delight of the vocal home supporters.
Manly United?s response arrived on the half-hour via a set-piece. Payne?s curled attempt from a slightly decentralised position cleared the wall, though finished inches wide of the intended target.
At the other end, Ken Chun stung the palms of Mitchell with a powerful drive in the 40? minute. The effort moved wickedly in the air, though the goalkeeper did well to get down and parry the attempt.
The resulting play however did lead to the home side?s second goal of the evening, leaving Mitchell completely helpless. Tadrosse?s pin-point cross from the left flank picked out an unmarked Harris Gaitatzis. The substitute headed powerfully home from point-blank range to double his side?s lead.
Following the break, the visitors carved out the first opening via a corner. Balderson?s delivery from the left had the White Eagles defenders on alert as McNamara confidently punched the ball away to safety.
Balderson created another opportunity in the 51? minute, winning his side a free-kick following a powerful forward foray. The resulting free-kick however lacked any accuracy, clearing McNamara?s crossbar.
On the hour Younis and Simpson combined on the edge of the penalty-area with a neat one-two before Simpson hit his effort wide of the mark.
Simpson squandered another chance in the 61? minute. In an almost identical position to that of 2? minutes earlier, the tall attacking midfielder stabbed his effort over the crossbar.
Manly United re-opened the contest in the 63? minute, due largely to the influence of substitute Adam Foti. The burly striker did exceptionally well with his back to goal to turn and release Iley on the right. Iley, with time to setup his shot, finished with pin-point drive with the outside of his boot, leaving McNamara routed to the spot.
The goal spurred Manly into action as the visitors enjoyed a good share of possession in the attacking third. Foti was definitely a threat as he and Payne combined well to get a look-in on goal moments later, though the White Eagles defenders retreated quickly to divert any danger.
At the other end, Younis attempted to restore the two goal lead for Bonnyrigg, though his well-hit effort, destined for the bottom left-hand corner, was well parried by Mitchell.
The Northern beaches outfit threatened again moments later, this time down the right flank. Iley?s delivery had the White Eagles players retreating, though no Manly United player managed to get a head onto the ball.
On 74? minutes, Balderson tested McNamara with a wicked effort from distance. The Bonnyrigg goalkeeper parried the first attempt down to his left, though with immense pressure from two Manly strikers following up, McNamara did well to push the ball behind for a corner.
1? minute later and McNamara again denied Balderson. The midfielder fired a ferocious drive that was destined for the top corner, though McNamara flung his body to tip the ball behind for another corner.
On 76? minutes, and following a White Eagles counterattack, the home side was awarded a penalty for a foul on Younis. The in-form striker dusted himself off and comfortably disposed of the penalty with a cool finish.
Manly immediately returned to attack and were very nearly awarded in the 80? minute as Mitch Macedo?s deflected effort forced McNamara into another acrobatic save.
The home supporters welcomed youngster Nikola Todoroski onto the pitch for his debut, just before Aleksander Canak had the chance to put the result well and truly out of reach 5? minutes from the end when sent through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Mitchell closed the angle nicely and forced a nice save to deny Canak a fourth for Bonnyrigg.
A final forward flurry by Manly United had the White Eagles players defending in numbers ? the home side kept their cool to clinch the three-points with the 3-1 final result.
At the conclusion of proceedings, Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown expressed his content at the start his side has made to the season, something he was certainly not expecting:
?I am very happy with the efforts of my players, and of course the win tonight ? it is four from four now,? commented Brown.
?To be honest with you, I was not expecting at the conclusion of Round 4 to be talking about my team with four wins on the board.
?We?ve had a number of changes from last season, many new players have come on board and a number of young guys even tonight out on the pitch, so I would never have thought that we would be leading the table.
?The mix of experience and youth in the team is great, and I am really pleased with the efforts of Robbie Younis and Mitchell Long who have been fabulous in this early part of the season ? we are hoping that Mitchell Long?s injury isn?t anything too serious.
?We also saw Nikola Todoroski make his debut tonight. He is a great kid with a big future ahead of him. We are definitely looking to improve on our performances to-date,? Brown concluded.
Out of the Manly United FC change room, coach Craig Midgley was visibly disappointed with the result, though did draw on some positives from his players? performances:
?It is a tough place to come to here at Bonnyrigg, to face one of the strongest sides in the competition and try and get a result ? we knew that the task at hand was a big one.
?In saying that, my players approached the game really well ? we came out after the break, got back into the match with a goal and then could have even grabbed an equaliser with some of the chances we created. Their third goal then certainly took the wind out of our sails somewhat,? explained Midgley.
?We also played this match with a number of young lads, Josh Ward, Leigh Egger, Jordan Edwards ? our back line was very young with the likes of Graeme Forbes and Sean Bowden and Roberto Hamad all out. In saying that, we did give it a good shake tonight.?
Asked about the progress with Cromer Park?s new artificial surface that is being laid, Midgley expressed his content at the calendar that will see his side play the majority of the second part of the season at home:
?Yes, we probably are 1-2 weeks behind schedule with the new surface at Cromer Park, though I am looking forward to playing some home matches.
?To-date we?ve played a number of good sides, and picked up a point at both Blacktown City and Sutherlands Sharks, which is certainly a positive.
?We are under no illusions however, and we know that the season will be a long and hard one, and we will continue to work to ensure we give season a good crack,? ended Midgley.
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 (Tynan Diaz 24?, Harris Gaitatzis 41?, Younis (pen) 76?)
Manly United FC 1 (Colin Iley 63?)
Saturday 21^st April, 2012
Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assistant Referees: Craig Fisher and Michael Robertson
Fourth Official: Leigh Pigram
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1.Ben McNamara; 13.Nikola Stanojevic, 2.Alex Mansueto, 4.David Vrankovic, 7.Tynan Diaz, 21.Bo Ken Chun (17.Jordan Crighton 87?), 8.Aleksander Canak, 10.Jordan Simpson, 9.Robbie Younis, 23.Mitchell Long (19.Harris Gaitatzis 11?) (29.Nikola Todoroski 83?), 5.Chris Tadrosse (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Andrew Bazi, 15.Luka Dukic
Yellow Cards: David Vrankovic 29?, Tynan Diaz 66?
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 1.Dylan Mitchell; 5.Marc Richards (C), 6.Michael Daly (16.Mitchell Lensink 71?), 7.Scott Balderson, 8.Daniel Grant, 9.Justin Hayward (10.Adam Foti 62?), 12.Colin lley, 15.Jordan Edwards, 20.Chris Payne, 21.Leigh Egger, 28.J. Ward (14.Mitchell Macedo 46?)
Substitutes Not Used: 23.Damir Prodanovic, 24.Kang Lee
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil