Heavyweights clash at Blacktown

LIKE heavyweight boxers Blacktown City and Bonnyrigg White Eagles slugged it out.

That it was a draw was probably a fair result, as Patrick Antelmi and Yuta Kokado found the back of the net.

What this match did show, was that these two sides will be well and truly in the thick of things when the whips are cracking in September.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles dominated the first half, only to go behind to a sucker punch by Antelmi. 

The second half was a bit more even, with Blacktown City on top at the start of the second stanza before the game really opened up in the final ten minutes as the sides traded blow.

Both staggered and swayed, but neither went down, and the points were split.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles came out swinging though, and landed blow after blow. 

A Robbie Younis header was tame and straight at Blacktown City keeper Nenad Vekic. It was early doors, but it was a sign of things to come.

Barely a minute later, a shot from Younis fizzed wide, before a Kokado shot was stopped by Vekic.

The White Eagles looked in the mood, with Kokado, Younis, and Aaron Peterson linking up nicely in the attacking third, while Blacktown City’s midfield trio of Conor Evans, Sasa Macura, and Yianni Perkatis were struggling to exert any control in the middle of the park.

Antelmi tested James Chronopoulos with a free kick, but that aside, the Bonnyrigg shot stopper was a spectator as his side dominated the opening 45′ minutes.

Mitchell Mallia lashed a shot over the bar as the home side tried to create something, before Kokado forced a splendid save by Vekic.

Kokado’s left footed shot looked destined for the bottom corner, but Vekic plunged low to his left to touch the ball onto the post, before Yianni Fragogiannis cleared to safety.

Vekic and Blacktown City captain Zac Cairncross were keeping their side in the the game, but when Younis shot towards goal from distance on the half hour mark there was nothing either could do. Luckily for them, Younis’ shot curled only inches wide of the far post. 

"Bomber" Brown’s side were well and truly up for the contest, and truthfully Blacktown City hardly had a kick in the first half.  

When they did find a clear cut opportunity, it was spurned.

Nice work by Travis Major set up Evans, but he hammered a shot into the crossbar from only 12 yards out. 

A moment later, Alex Canak had a free header but it was straight at Vekic.

Unbelievably, Blacktown City took a leader into the interval.

Major was the man on the left and when his cross found Antelmi in the middle, he bundled the ball over the line with a combination, of neck, head, and shoulder. 

It was scarcely deserved, for Bonnyrigg had been outstanding, but for no reward.

Blacktown City were rejuvenated by their goal and the half time break, and they came out with renewed vigour at the start of the second half. 

Reece Caira replaced Peterson only two minutes into the second half, and then Alex Mansueto replaced Canak.

Major had a tough chance to double the lead just after the hour mark. A lightning break by Mallia, who left Mansueto for dead, saw a ball from the left aimed at Major at the near post. But the Blacktown City number 7 wasn’t able to cleanly connect and the chance was gone.

Caira then produced the miss of the season. A cross from the right found the Bonnyrigg substitute at the back post and it looked harder to miss. From only six yards, Caira shot straight at the out-of-position Vekic, who stuck out a foot to stop the goal bound shot. 

It was remarkable stuff, but Bonnyrigg are made of stern stuff and they didn’t let it hold them back.

When the equaliser came from Kokado, it was well worth the wait.

The midfielder was 30 yards from goal, but he had all the time in the world to look up and unleash a rocket that flew past Vekic and into the top corner. It was as good a goal as you’ll see anywhere. 

Kokado was outstanding all game, pulling the strings when he popped up in the centre of the park, and looking the most creative player on the ground. 

Daniel Araujo replaced Evans who looked to be holding his face as he went off, and the Bonnyrigg midfield of Mun Soo Gil, Ray Miller and Mansueto began to take control.

Both sides could smell blood in the last ten minutes, and the game became far more open than both Brown and Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden would like.

Neither side was prepared to die wondering, and the ball bounced from end to end.

Younis tried to curl one past Vekic, but the goalkeeper plucked the shot out of the air. Younis, the veteran marksman, had been troublesome for Cairncross and Matt Lewis all day, whether holding the ball up or dropping deep to pull some strings.

Jonathan Grozdanovski replaced Antelmi and was immediately was in behind, but Chronoppoulos came out and snuffed out any danger.

The big goalkeeper then had to be alert to stop a shot at the near post from Mallia.

Then, Araujo had a superb chance to win the game in stoppage time after great work by Major, but the youngster lost his head and blazed over.

Both sides were out on their feet, and the final bell was welcome relief.

Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 1 (Antelmi 45′)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Kokado 68′)
Sunday June 21, 2015
Lilys Football Centre, Seven Hills
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Michael Bailey and Matthew Cassidy
Fourth Official: Timothy Danaskos
Blacktown City FC: Vekic; Fragogiannis, Cairncross (C), Lewis, Speranza; Macura, Perkatis, Evans (Araujo 64′); Major, Antelmi (Grozdanovski 84′), Mallia
Substitutes not used: Beumie, Perre, Prendergast
Yellow cards: Antelmi 30′, Fragogiannis 47′, Major 90+2′

Bonnyrigg White Eagles: Chronopoulos; Diaz, Jenner, Fox, Tadrosse (C); Miller, Canak (Mansueto 62′), Gil (Vrankovic 80′), Kokado, Younis, Peterson (Caira 47′)
Substitutes not used: Savicic, Spruce
Yellow cards: Miller 73′
– by Matthew Lopez, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Editor, at Lilys Football Centre