Bonnyrigg pushed to the limit by Manly
BONNYRIGG White Eagles has survived a second half fightback from Manly United to secure a narrow 2-1 win in its PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Round 4 clash at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre on Saturday.
A first half brace to Robbie Younis was enough for the Brian Brown coached side to claim all three points but home fans were forced onto the edge of their seats as a determined Manly United went close to snatching an upset.
It was all Bonnyrigg in the opening stages as Yuta Kokado’s fourth minute shot started what would be one way traffic at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre during the first stanza.
Only Dylan Mitchell knows how the scores remained scoreless when Alex Mansueto threw his name up for miss of the season after 17 minutes
A low cross from Aaron Peterson inside the left hand side of the penalty area found an unmarked Mansueto three yards from the goal line.
An incredible diving effort from Manly shot stopper denied the Bonnyrigg right back as his leg blocked the shot.
Only seconds later and the home side had a free kick on the edge of the area. Robbie Younis stepped up and curled the ball beyond an outstretched Mitchell to make it 1-0 for Bonnyrigg.
A hard tackle on Ken Chun 25 metres out from goal provided Younis with another opportunity to showcase why he is one of the competition’s dead ball specialists.
Again, Younis stepped up. Different top corner, same result as he rustled the back of the net to double the home side’s lead.
Younis thought he had his hat-trick in the 40th minute when he reacted quickest to a whipped in Kokado corner.
Mitchell again came to the rescue for Manly, although there was some doubt whether or not he had kept the ball from crossing the line.
It was a completely different story in the second half as Manly raced out of the blocks.
Within five minutes the lead was seemingly halved.
A first class reaction save from Chronopoulos after a Dejan Pandurevic shot fell to the feet of Brendan Cholakian who hammered into the back of the net.
The offside flag of the assistant referee quickly silenced the cheers of the manly faithful.
In the 63rd minute, Pandurevic and Manly’s hard work finally got the reward it deserved.
Adam Parkhouse delivered a superb ball low into the box from the left as Pandurevic calmly tapped home to make it 2-1.
The away side continued to lift as the second half progressed with the White Eagles dropping deeper and deeper in defence.
Manly kept pushing with Cholakian, Parkhouse and Pandurevic constant threats.
Despite Manly’s efforts it was too little too late for the visitors with the White Eagles holding firm to secure its first home win for 2016.
Brian Brown was a relieved man after the final whistle.
“It was a game of two halves but we’re happy to take all three points,” he said.
“The competition has changed this season and there are no easy teams.
“Other than our opening 20 minutes against Rockdale, Our first half was our best half of football this season.”
Paul Dee had a bittersweet feeling at the end of the match.
“I thought we started the match well but then we concede from two set pieces and go into the break down,” he said.
“ I was very impressed with the way the boys responded in the second half.
“We pressed them, had plenty of chances but couldn’t put them away.
“Disappointed with the result but pleased with the response.”
Something all teams should watch for was the Manly front three of Cholakian, Pandurevic and Parkhouse.
“We believe we’ve got a high level of attacking quality and just need to concentrate on a decisive last touch,” Dee said.
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Younis 18’, 35’)
Manly United FC 1 (Pandurevic 63’)
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Referee: K Patterson
Assistant Referees: J Adabjou & R Osbourne
4th Official: M Bailey
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1. Chronopoulos, 2. Mansueto (14. McDonald), 3. Vrankovic, 4. Robinson, 5. Jenner (6. Zonjic), 9. Younis, 10. Kokado, 16. Galloway, 17. Gil, 19. Peterson (31. Lo), 21. Chun.
Substitutes: 20. Savicic, 18. Douglas.
Yellow Cards: Gallaway 60’, Younis 90’
Red Cards:
Manly United FC: 1. Mitchell, 2. Paull, 3. Lobb (16. Berti), 4. Oughtred, 7. Cooper, 10. Cholakian, 11. Parkhouse, 23. Pandurevic, 18. Bragg (6. Gallagher), 19. Saric (Williams), 22. Giverin.
Substitutes: 20. Syron-Mackenzie
Yellow Cards: Cholakian 20’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings
3 – Robbie Younis
2 – David Vrankovic
1 – Dejan Pandurevic
-By PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Nikola Pozder
