Blacktown punish hapless White Eagles
Blacktown City put reigning IGA National Premier League NSW’s Mens 1 champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles to the sword in a 4-1 thrashing at Lily Football Centre on Sunday.
A dominant opening half allowed Blacktown City to score three goals within six minutes as a double to Ryuji Miyazawa and goal to Travis Major killed off the game early.
Major made it four early in the second half before Aaron Peterson converted a penalty for the visitors.
Surprisingly, Bonnyrigg White Eagles were the first to create a chance in the opening minute of play. Alex Canak dispossessed Zac Cairncross deep in the Blacktown half before Mitchell Long saw himself one on one with the goalkeeper. Long’s shot beat Nenad Vekic but bounced off the post.
Blacktown striker Travis Major had his own missed opportunity a minute later, getting the better of the White Eagles defence before seeing his shot parried away by Matthew Nash.
Major’s misfortune spurred Blacktown on to a goal scoring rampage just minutes later.
In the 5th minute Daniel Araujo found acres of space on the right hand side before cutting back to Miyazawa who expertly curled the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the 18 yard box.
Just three minutes later the Japanese import doubled his and his team’s tally. Araujo was again involved in the lead up play, dummying for Yianni Fragogiannis to advance before sending in an inch perfect waited low cross into the box as Miyazawa tapped home to make it 2-0.
Blacktown attacked with venom again in the 11th minute with Sasa Macura taking on the Bonnyrigg defence before finding Travis Major who struck the ball under Matthew Nash making it 3-0.
Bonnyrigg calmed the play down showing more intent as the half wore on.
But it was Blacktown who continued to wreak havoc in the Bonnyrigg defence as Matt Lewis’ attempted effort went sailing wide on 23 minutes.
Former Melbourne Heart defender David Vrankovic tried to get his side back in the game, getting on the end of a floating free kick for Bonnyrigg, but could only divert his header to the chest of a waiting Vekic.
Miyazawa almost turned provider in the 35th minute, crossing the ball to an oncoming Lewis who could not convert for a second time.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown rung the changes at half time, replacing strikers Robbie Younis and Mitchell Long with Aaron Peterson and a debut to former Sydney FC captain Terry McFlynn.
The change almost worked immediately when Aaron Peterson and Howard Fondyke forced Vekic into a double save in the 48th minute.
The White Eagles hard work came crashing down in the 52nd minute however. As Howard Fondyke failed to clear the ball in the box, Major popped up to take the ball before placing it into the back of the net making it 4-0 to Blacktown. It was Major’s ninth goal of the year as he currently leads the IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Golden Boot honours.
Five minutes later Bonnyrigg had one back after winning a penalty. Aaron Peterson calmly stepped up to send Vekic the wrong way making it 4-1.
The goal seemed to spark Bonnyrigg as they fought hard in the middle of the park pinning Blacktown in their own half for long periods.
Bonnyrigg’s day got even worse in the 67th minute when they were reduced to ten men after David Vrankovic was given his marching orders for a second yellow card.
The man advantage was evident in every attack for Blacktown as they moved forward in numbers but were unable to create a chance with Terry McFLynn marshalling Bonnyrigg’s defensive structure.
With nine minutes remaining Blacktown opened up the Bonnyrigg defence again with Danny Choi finding space on the right before finding Miyazawa free in the box, only for the latter to spray his volley over the bar.
Following the match Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown was disappointed by his side’s poor performance.
“We never really got going in the first half.
“Credit to Blacktown they’ve got a great counter attack style about them and go forward in numbers,” Brown said.
“Before we knew it, we were 3-0 down when we should have been up 1-0.
“When you’re 3-0 down I think the only thing we could do was not give in which I think the second half apart from giving away a silly goal, we at least had a lot of effort there.
“When you lose 4-1 it’s just not a good feeling.”
In the home dressing sheds Mark Crittenden was happy with his side’s passing game.
“The first four minutes I thought was terrible for both teams and then all of a sudden the next 12 minutes gave us a super start,” he said.
“The boys were moving the ball which we have been practicing on the pitch.
“Miya’s first finish was spectacular. The boys have been working hard and we are happy with how things are going at the moment.”
It capped off a fantastic week for Blacktown City who moved one step closer to the FFA Cup after defeating the Marconi Stallions in the round of 16.
Match Stats
Blacktown City 4 (Miyazawa 5’, 8’, Major 11’, 52’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Peterson 57’)
Venue: Lily Football Centre
Blacktown City: 1. Nenad Vekic, 18. Daniel Araujo (15. Marco Travaglini 67’), 16. Kearyn Baccus, 19. Zac Cairncross, 4. Yianni Fragogiannis (12. Joel Hardwick 46’), 6. Matthew Lewis, 8. Sasa Macura, 7. Travis Major (11. Danny Choi 74’), 5. Jacob Poscoliero, 3. Giorgio Speranza
Substitutions not used: 13. Blake Tuxford
Yellow Cards: Baccus 20’, Vekic 86’
Red cards: nil
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1. Matthew Nash, 8. Alex Canak, 21. Ken Chun, 7. Tynan Diaz, 16. Howard Fondyke, 10. Mitchell Long (35. Terry McFlynn 46’), 5. Chris Tadrosse (c), 18. Adrian Ucchino, 4. David Vrankovic, 9. Robert Younis (19. Aaron Peterson 46’) , 6. Nikola Zonjic
Substitutions not used: 2. Alex Mansueto, 22. Liam Gobbo, 12. Dylan Fox
Yellow Cards: Vrankovic 47’, 67’ Diaz 59’
Red cards: Vrankovic 67’
Player Ratings
3-Ryuji Miyazawa (BC)
2-Travis Major (BC)
1-Kearyn Baccus (BC)
– By Chris Georges, National Premier Leagues NSW Mens 1 Reporter, at Lily Football Centre
