IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s Round 17 Review

In a thrilling encounter between St George FC and Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC in what was the best match of the season so far, Bonnyrigg White Eagles came from behind to claim the all-important victory.

Match of the Round

St George FC 3-4 Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Seymour Shaw Park

St George FC looked the likely side to take home the three points in the first half, but a composed Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC snatched victory in the final ten minutes, with two late goals, grabbing a 4-3 win.

It was an end-to-end game that for the full 90 minutes was bursting with life, with both keepers in the thick of it, as both teams searched for the all-important win. 

St George FC showed clear intent early on and a run up the line by James Spanoudakis in the 7’ minute saw him with a chance on goal, but his shot was saved by keeper, Tristan Prendergast on the near post.

But minutes later, Daniel Mitwali delivered a majestic free kick from the right, finding central striker Andreas Vais in the box, who slotted the ball with a deft finish into the left corner of the net.

The 19’ minute saw an opportunity for Bonnyrigg, as Osadolor Edosomwan on the left sent a beautiful ball to unmarked Dillon Vorster in the centre, but nothing eventuated as the visiting side continued to chase the game.

Despite their chances, Bonnyrigg were finding it difficult to find the back of the net, let alone trying to keep the home side scoreless.

St George’s Spanoudakis’s run down the line proved to be a constant threat for the visiting side and in the 29’ minute his cross into the centre found Mohamed Kardoli, before passing to an unmarked Vais who coolly slotted the ball past keeper, Prendergast to double their lead. 

Edosomwan and Vorster were desperately trying to create chances for the visiting side and they were rewarded in the 31’ minute. From the ensuing corner, Edosomwan’s diving header beat the St George defenders to pull one back for the visiting side.

Bonnyrigg should have grabbed the equaliser in the 40’ minute when Edosomwan’s left cross found Stevan Ilic in the box whose shot on goal, was brilliantly saved by St George defender, Mitwali. 

As the half time whistle blew, the visiting side knew that a big effort was needed to deny St George all three points.

But only minutes into the second half and Bonnyrigg once again found themselves on the backfoot, when a header in the box was finished off by another well-composed header from Rodney Lewin into the left corner of the net.

Chances were coming thick and fast as both teams threw caution to the wind.

In the 68’ minute Edosomwan was back in the spotlight for the visiting side, this time outpacing the St George defenders on the right, before drilling the ball into the right corner of the net.

Edosomwan proved to be a constant menace for the home side and was rewarded with a hattrick in the 77’ minute, when a classy free kick was finished off by his header, levelling the scores 3-3.

Bonnyrigg having worked hard to equalise were now looking for the all-important fourth goal and the visiting side supporters were sent into raptures as Tarik Ercan pulled off a goal just minutes later.

Harrison Feller’s cross into the box found Ercan who finished it off, heading the ball into the back of the net.

In the final minutes, St George FC were left to chase the game for the first time in the match, but as the full time whistle blew, Bonnyrigg White Eagles walked off elated with the victory, while the home side were left to rue the game that got away.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC Coach, Mark Zecchin was thrilled with the win.

“We were a little bit rusty in the first half, but we created a lot of chances and it was a good comeback”, Zecchin said.

“The boys showed a lot of character and a lot of will to win and hopefully that’s a springboard for the games to come.”

St George FC 3 (34.Andreas Vais 11’, 29’, 30.Rodney Lewin 48’)

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 4  (32.Osadolor Edosomwan 31’, 68’, 77’, 26.Tarik Ercan 81’)

Sunday 13 July

Seymour Shaw Park

Referee: Daniel Stack

Assistant Referee: Danny Horstead & James Tesoriero

St George FC: 15.Tayfun Buyukkopru (36.Lucas Grey 83’), 35.Keifer Dotti, 32.Mohamed Kardoli, 30.Rodney Lewin, 33.Thomas Menton, 4.Daniel Mitwali (25.Christopher Carboni 78’) 38.Adriano Negri, 22.Paul Ragonese, 1.Dion Shaw, 18.James Spanoudakis, 34.Andreas Vais (27.Nikola Todoroski 81’)

Substitutes Not Used: 24.Mark Rizoski, 31.Rino Zenari

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC: 24.Alexander Doyle, 32.Osadolor Edosomwan, 29.Brian Griffin-Colls, 17.Mitchell Osmond, 20.Tristan Prendergast, 34.Dillon Vorster, 33.George Yousif (39.Jayden Priest 67’/ 25.Manuel Duarte 89’), 15.Stevan Ilic (38.Daniel Vellonio 60’), 11.Benjamin Spruce (36.Braedan Robins 58’), 28.Jordan Crighton (27.Harrison Feller 78’), 26.Tarik Ercan

Substitutes Not Used: Nil

Yellow Cards: 15. Stevan Ilic 54’

Red Cards: Nil

ROUND REVIEW

Marconi Stallions FC 1-3 Rockdale City Suns FC at Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stallions FC lost to Rockdale City Suns FC at home on Saturday evening.

Callum Fitzpatrick scored for the home side.

Jeremy Boden, Tony Lo and Ben Cornish scored for the visiting side.

Sunday

Sydney Olympic FC 1-2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC at Belmore Sports Ground

Sydney Olympic FC lost to APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC on Sunday afternoon.

APIA scorers were Matt Mayora and Luke Clifford. 

Brendan Hooper scored for the home side.

Manly United FC 6-1 Blacktown Spartans FC at Cromer Park

Manly United FC beat Blacktown Spartans FC at home.

Ethan Galbraith and Thomas Morrissey each scored one for the home side and Christopher Arditti and Pat Weir scored two.

Blacktown City FC 0-1 Sutherland Sharks FC at Lilys Football Centre

Blacktown City FC lost to Sutherland Sharks FC at home on Sunday afternoon.

Sutherland scorer was Christopher Mcstay.

South Coast Wolves FC 0-2 Sydney United 58 FC at WIN Stadium

South Coast Wolves FC lost to Sydney United 58 FC at home.

-By Anneliese Scenna