Waratah Cup Round 2 Review
The Waratah Cup continues its magical journey as round 2 matches completed what was a fascinating round of matches.
Match of the round saw Illawarra Premier League outfit Wollongong United, sprinkled with former IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 talent, challenge Sutherland Shire Association side Bonnet Bay, read below how the match unfolded as well as a review of all the other matches.
Bonnet Bay (SSFA) – Wollongong United 0-6
Wollongong United made relatively easy work of Bonnet Bay in Round Two of the Waratah Cup, qualifying for a spot in the third round following a comprehensive 6-0 victory over the locally based Sutherland Shire Association side.
Bonnet Bay came in to the second round clash at Seymour Shaw courtesy of a 2-1 triumph in Round One over Pendle Hill Football Club, whilst Wollongong had amassed a dozen goals without reply in their stroll against Glebe Gorillas.
United boasted quite a few players of Premier League notoriety, namely Johhny Martinoski of ex-South Coast Wolves fame, recent acquisition from APIA Leichhardt, Brendan Reilly, and ex-Rockdale City Suns duo, Nathan Jagelman and United’s captain, Stefan Donevski.
Wollongong were looking for an early goal to settle the nerves, and threatened on just four minutes when Martinoski swept wide from inside the box after a well worked free kick from the visitors.
Nathan Jagelman latched onto a neat pass sixty seconds later, only to skew wide under pressure from the Bay’s onrushing keeper, James Cain.
Martinoski, in fact, was rather fortunate not to receive his marching orders on 15 minutes, relieved to earn a yellow card following a late tackle and ensuing push and shove with a few Bonnet Bay opponents.
Wollongong stayed on course and were again denied in the 19th minute after Giovanni Leuzzi played in the overlapping right fullback, Mark Every. Bonnet Bay’s keeper, James Cain, narrowed the angles to divert the ball for a corner.
Robbie Shields, a late inclusion for Wollongong at the expense of Brendan Reilly who was stuck in traffic on the way to Miranda, fired on to the local highway on 21 minutes from point blank after Mark Every had sent over a perfect far post cross.
A few minutes later and it was a Jagelman cross this time that was met by Shields, his downward header well parried by the ever alert Bonnet Bay keeper, James Cain.
The inevitable Wollongong goal finally arrived in the 27th minute, and it was Robbie Shields who slid the ball under the body of Cain from right in front, but only at the second attempt after Cain had brilliantly parried the original lobbed effort by the Wollongong striker.
Bonnet Bay had been reduced to half-hearted counter attacks that barely reached the final third as they tried valiantly to weather the storm.
But once the opening strike had arrived, it rained goals before the break.
Central defender, Billy Tsovolos, got his noggin to a Martinoski corner in the 33rd minute, his downward header placed firmly as it bounced past Cain into the Bonnet Bay net.
Giovanni Leuzzi then tried his luck for Wollongong in the 35th minute, his edge of the box effort expertly tipped over the bar by Cain as the young goal keeper protected his goal in vain.
Wollongong’s number nine, Nathan Jagelman, full of strength and running during an energetic opening stanza, showed his capabilities on 39 minutes, weaving and slicing past a group of close-knit defenders inside the Bonnet Bay box to slide the leather under the advancing James Cain.
Jagelman doubled his tally a minute before the break with his side’s fourth goal, picking up a poor defensive clearance before chipping Cain with a perfect lob in to the top left hand corner of the net.
The second half was punctuated with nine substitutions, no less, as both sides looked to give their entire squad a taste of the Cup action.
Wollongong’s skipper, Stefan Donevski, tried to add his name to the scoreboard just before the hour mark. Receiving the ball just outside the Bonnet Bay penalty area, Donevski let fly with a volley that cannoned off the post with Cain rooted to the spot. The ball remarkably rebounded straight back to the flanker’s feet, and this time he coolly lobbed Cain with a delicate chip, only for the retreating Bonnet Bay defender, Brett Hookham, to head the ball off the line and over the bar for a corner.
Martinoski had seen enough on 66 minutes, cutting inside from the right flank before letting fly from fully 25 yards, the missile ending up in the top left hand corner of the net with Bonnet Bay’s keeper, James Cain, a mere spectator.
In amongst the continuous interruptions via the substitutions, Wollongong had time for one last goal, and that arrived three minutes from time when the speedy Billy Sarafinoski, himself a second half entry, raced on to a Donevski through ball to slip a shot past Cain to finish off proceedings.
For Bonnet Bay, goal keeper James Cain was a standout, keeping the tally on the scoreboard respectable due to his heroics between the sticks, with the locally based side will now reverting to their local Premier League bread and butter football for the remainder of 2014.
Wollongong United were best served by Giovanni Leuzzi who pulled the strings in midfield all night, Mark Every, who had a mortgage on the right flank both in defence and supporting in attack, whilst Robbie Shields and Nathan Jagelman were a constant menace up front.
Wollongong United now take their place in Round Three where they will welcome the visit of State League One outfit, Dulwich Hill – coached by ex-Socceroo Wally Savor – for a Tuesday night elimination bout at Hooka Creek Park, Berkeley, the match kicking off at 7-30pm on April 8th.
Match Stats
Bonnet Bay 0
Wollongong United 6 (Shields 27th, Tsovolos 33rd, Jagelman 39th / 44th , Martinoski 66th, Sarafinoski 87th)
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Seymour Shaw, Miranda
Referee: Mr Chris Young
Assistant Referees: Mr Mitch Clarke and Mr Matt McOrist
Bonnet Bay FC : 24.Justin Benitez, 22.Justin Brady, 1.James Cain, 15.Joel Garlato(10.Luke Martin 55’), 7.Brett Hookham, 5.Matthew Hudson(52.Michael Hill 61’), 16.Joshus Lavender (c), 17.Christopher Lee(4.Peter Koutrodimos 46’), 6.Mitchell Lee, 19.Thomas Papanikolaou(2.Nathan Morton 80’), 23.Hayden Watson (9.Timothy Mitchell 66’).
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong United : 1.Sam Nastic, 38.Mark Every, 34.Scott Burleigh, 40.Dan Chapman(6.Kudzai Madziya 61’), 24.Robbie Shields, 21.Stefan Donevski (c), 30.Jack Madgwick(16.Brendan Reilly 49’), 17.Billy Tsovolos, 36.Giovanni Leuzzi, 9.Nathan Jagelman(7.Kyle Del 77’), 22.Johnny Martinoski(26.Billy Sarafinoski 66’)
Substitutes Not Used: RGK.Matt White.
Yellow Cards: 22.Johnny Martinoski 15’, 16.Brendan Reilly 75’.
Red Cards: Nil
Round Two Waratah Cup Review
In other Round Two clashes, Arncliffe Aurora edged out Coogee United by the odd goal in five at the iconic St George Stadium, whilst Hurstville FC knocked out Glebe Wanderers 2-0 at Valentine Sports Park.
Auburn United tore St Clair United apart at Mark Leish Complex, winning 7-2, but Southern Bulls had it a lot easier, eliminating Inter Lions Premier League without kicking a ball after the local Canterbury Association side forfeited their clash. Western Condors and Dunbar Rovers both advanced to Round Three at the expense of Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers and Parramatta City, 3-1 and 5-1 respectively.
Kogarah Waratahs accounted for Marayong Sports in a comfortable 5-1 win, whilst Doonside Hawks took care of their more illustrious league opponents, Enfeld Rovers, with a surprise 2-0 result.
Glenmore Park were on the receiving end of a 1-9 scoreline against Hills Pumas, whilst Waverley Old Boys put half a dozen past Ararat FC on their way in to Round Three.
There were close affairs at two grounds in the Bankstown district, with local sides Revesby Rovers (at Coleman Park) and Padstow United (at Kinch Reserve) both losing 0-1 at the hands of Sans Souci and Lokomotiv Cove FC respectively.
Rydalmere Lions also made their way in to the next round courtesy of a 5-1 drubbing of Gladesville Ravens at Rydalmere Park.
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