Blacktown City dig deep to halt Sydney Olympic run
A fast-paced start by the Blues saw the side move to a two goal lead midway through the first-half, before Sean Rooney started his own personal show with goals late in the half. Despite Matthew Mayora restoring the Blues lead early in the second-half following another goalkeeping error, Travis Major added his name to the score sheet with a well taken penalty.
Sydney Olympic were denied late on when captain Phil Makrys saw a penalty of his own parried by Luke Turnbull, the shot-stopper made amends following a not so good afternoon between the sticks for Blacktown City.
Sydney Olympic created the first opening of the afternoon when captain Phil Makrys? perfectly floated free-kick picked out Marton Vass at the back post. The defender?s quick thinking saw the number 21 pull the ball back for one of his teammates, though the Blacktown City defence cleared its lines swiftly.
Sydney Olympic found the lead on its next forward foray on 4? minutes as Will Angel was in the right spot to tap home a poorly dealt with cross by goalkeeper Luke Turnbull. David Gullo?s delivery from the left somehow made its way underneath the shot-stopper as he attempted to claim the ball, leaving Angel with the easiest of tasks to slot home.
Blacktown City attempted to get its way back into the match with James Monie showing his physical presence however it was the Blues who again threatened Turnbull?s goal on 12? minutes.
A cross from the right side was partially dealt with by the Blacktown City defence as the loose ball fell to Gullo who blasted a powerful effort from point-blank range against the crossbar.
Makrys followed up the attempt with a volley of his own, though the central midfielder drove his attempt well over the crossbar.
On 17? minutes Matt Lewis? corner delivery from the left picked out the head of Roodenburg though the skipper?s glancing header failed to force Paul Henderson into a save.
Lewis continued to press for Blacktown City down the left, combining with Monie to release Bragg on 20? minutes, however the latter?s attempted pass for Monie was thwarted by the Blues defenders.
On 22? minutes, Angel went close to doubling his side?s, and his personal tally for the afternoon with a powerful shot that only just finished over Turnbull?s crossbar.
The reigning champions doubled its lead in the 26? minute via a majestic Phil Makrys free-kick. From near the left-hand touchline, Makrys? whipped in delivery avoided all players inside the penalty-area to finish inside Turnbull?s left-hand post, much to the delight of the Blues supporters.
Despite falling two goals behind, the 2010 champions continued to push for a goal, and on 36? minutes, the side re-opened the contest.
Travis Major curled a free-kick around the wall, with a heavy touch diverting the ball past Henderson. At the final whistle, the referee awarded the goal to Rooney.
In the final bit of action for the opening half, Rooney drew Blacktown City level, completely against the run of play. The striker picked up a loose ball inside the penalty-area, and with a fine showing of strength and finesse, turned to blast the ball past Henderson to make it 2-2 and leaving the Blues with little to show for a dominant first-half showing.
The early exchanges in the second period saw Sydney Olympic again take the initiative. Matthew Mayora was lively as Angel was sent through on goal, denied only by linesman?s offside flag.
In the 46? minute, at the other end, Rooney was sent through on goal. With a good look at goal, the striker was rushed to get his shot away, forcing Henderson into a save.
The miss proved costly for Blacktown City as Mayora restored the Blues lead at the other end. Another error by the goalkeeper saw Mayora skip clear on goal and, despite the acute angle, slotted the ball home for the 3-2 lead.
On 55? minutes Makrys and Vass combined via a set-piece with the latter heading the ball inches wide of the goal, as the Blacktown City defenders scrambled to limit Vass? jumping space.
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden sent Yuchi Yamauchi into battle shortly after the hour mark to give his side more creativity in the front third as the side continued to press for an equaliser.
Daniel Bragg tried his luck from distance following a smooth passing movement involving both Yamauchi and Ryuji Miyazawa shortly after, however a heavy deflection off a Blues defender was enough to take the pace off the ball for Henderson to make a comfortable claim.
Yamauchi then found himself with only Henderson to beat following a Monie flick-on, however the Japanese import?s run was brought to a halt by the linesman?s flag on the near side.
Mayora should have sealed the win for Sydney Olympic in the 73? minute when he was played through on goal. The striker?s volleyed attempt packed some real punch though little accuracy as the ball finished over the crossbar.
The missed chance allowed Blacktown City to get forward, and on 75? minutes Monie won his side a penalty. Major showed composure to calmly slot the ball to Henderson?s right to restore parity.
The goal spurred Sydney Olympic into action, though both Kutaiba Elrich and Phil Makrys saw their attempts to get forward cut short by some astute defending by Blacktown.
In the 85? minute, another Makrys free-kick caused some grief for Turnbull who misjudged the flight of the ball. The shot-stopper had his blushes saved by Monie who scrambled back to clear the loose ball off the goal line.
Blacktown City?s brave efforts for the afternoon seemed to have come undone when Zac Cairncross conceded a penalty for a foul on Zac Elrich. The ever reliable Phil Makrys stepped up for the spot-kick though he saw his attempt parried by Turnbull who made amends for his earlier blunders to salvage a point for his side.
At the final whistle, Blacktown City FC coach Mark Crittenden was pleased with a point from a very difficult match:
?It was a tough match today, definitely not one of our best though against a side like Sydney Olympic I will take the point,? Crittenden explained.
?We?ve been a bit short on playing personnel in recent weeks and today we really did start the match slowly.
?We knew how to approach Sydney Olympic, we knew to expect a physical encounter, though we just didn?t manage to execute our plan as well as we wanted to heading into the match.
?The task at hand is still a difficult one for us, we have the midweek match against Western Sydney and we will then need to be at our best against APIA-Leichhardt Tigers next Sunday, so really we still have a lot of work to do,? ended Crittenden.
Out of the Sydney Olympic dressing room, coach Peter Tsekenis was disappointed with the missed opportunity to keep the pressure on Bonnyrigg White Eagles:
?I am pleased with my players, with the intensity we showed today, though for the amount of time where we dominated the encounter, I am disappointed to leave the ground with only one-point.
?I thought we started well, were in complete control though those two goals late in the first-half should definitely have been avoided.
?Our ambition was to keep pressing Bonnyrigg for top-spot, though today we have lost some ground. We?ll keep doing what we are doing, and look to keep winning as we get towards the end of the season,? Tsekenis concluded.
Match Stats
Sydney Olympic 3 (William Angel 4?, Phil Makrys 26?, Matthew Mayora 47?)
Blacktown City FC 3 (Sean Rooney 36?, 45?+3?, Travis Major 75? (pen) )
Sunday 5th August, 2012
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Grant South and Nicholas Backo
Fourth Official: Scott Edeling
Sydney Olympic: 1.Paul Henderson; 3.Brett Studman, 21.Marton Vass (10.Chris Triantis 65?), 12.Troy Danaskos, 2.Emmanuel Giannaros, 19.David Gullo, 11.William Angel (15.Zac Elrich 53?), 4.Ibrahim Haydar, 24.Matthew Mayora (17.Kutaiba Elrich 76?), 8.Peter Triantis, 7.Phil Makrys (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Sam Awad, 32.Luke Kairies
Yellow Cards: Marton Vass 28?, Emmanuel Giannaros 80
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City FC: 20.Luke Turnbull; 3.Ryo Watanabe, 4.Travis Major, 6.Matt Lewis, 19.Zac Cairncross, 12.David Cain (18.Kieran Paull 57?), 7.Luke Roodenburg (C) (11.Yuchi Yamauchi 65?), 8.Daniel Bragg, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa (14.Dillon Vorster 90?+2?), 10.James Monie, 17.Sean Rooney
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Brody Crane
Yellow Cards: James Monie 8?, Luke Roodenburg 30?, David Cain 39?, Zac Cairncross 90?, Kieran Paull 90?+2?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
