First Grade: 3:00pm
Grade 20: 12.30pm
Archives for July 2009
Shark attack ends Bonnyrigg’s semi final dream
The Sharks travelled to Sydney?s south west on Saturday night, knowing very well that a victory would move them one step closer to a semi finals appearance and in the process, end Bonnyrigg?s dream of a top five finish.
It was the visitors who grabbed the first opportunity of the match courtesy of a runaway Michael Katz on the counter attack.
There was no faulting Katz?s cross, but a high bounce prevented Brad Boardman from latching on to the ball.
But the Sharks didn?t waste any time coming back up field and on this occasion it was Neil Jablonski making his way down the right flank
Jablonski floated a ball across the face of goal, but unfortunately for Sutherland, Panagiotis Nikas? efforts strayed narrowly wide of the post.
It was all one-way traffic in the opening 20? minutes, with Sutherland dominating possession and territory despite failing to trouble the scorers.
The TigerTurf Cup finalists deserved to be in front, but the White Eagles almost snatched a one-goal advantage when Milan Zoric found some space down the right sideline.
Zoric?s cross found a leaping Almir Dizdaric in the six-yard box, but the striker?s header smashed into the cross bar and away from danger.
Sutherland had their chances but desperate scrambling defence by the White Eagles restricted the visitors from a first half lead.
Nikas enjoyed a couple of shots at goal, but new Sydney FC National Youth League keeper Nenad Vekic was up to the task on each occasion.
Just 5? minutes out from the half time whistle, the match erupted with players from both clubs engaging in some push and shove leading up to a Bonnyrigg corner.
The score was locked up at 0-0 at half time and Bonnyrigg knew a draw wouldn?t be enough to save their season.
The home side were quick out of the blocks in the second period and so too was Milorad Simonovic.
The pocket rocket was heavily involved in the opening exchanges, drilling an unsuccessful long-range shot before having his free kick deflected moments later.
Any ascendancy the White Eagles gained at the break was short-lived as Nikas etched his name on to the scoresheet with a goal in the 50? minute.
Bonnyrigg barely had time to re-settle before their season flashed before them, as Nikas supplied Brad Boardman with the ball that ensured the Sharks a 2-0 advantage after 53? minutes.
But the White Eagles showed their fighting spirit and were soon back to within one.
D?Alessandro snatched the ball from the feet of Jim Bakis and regained his composure to curl a beautiful shot past Nathan Denham between the sticks.
The glimmer of hope seemed to spark the White Eagles and their vocal supporters into action, as the home side went in search of quick goals.
Simonovic looked the most threatening to do so, and in the 69? minute was almost rewarded but unfortunately for Bonnyrigg his 25 metre shot powered into the woodwork yet again.
Almir Dizdaric looked like setting up Ilkay Gurbuz with his header through the Sharks defence, but the ball beat Gurbuz as Denham rushed off his line to save the day.
Just when it looked as though the White Eagles would clinch a late equaliser, they suffered the unthinkable.
Both Dizdaric and D?Alessandro received red cards in the space of two minutes, angering the Bonnyrigg faithful.
Forced to play the last 8? minutes with just nine men, Bonnyrigg?s dreams of a semi final berth in their return season to the Premier League was officially over.
Boardman rubbed salt into the wound in injury time, drilling a shot into Vekic, who on the second effort fumbled the ball to allow Boardman to score his second goal and secure a 3-1 victory.
Sutherland coach Robbie Stanton was delighted to move one step closer to a finals berth.
?It was just another very efficient and professional performance by us,? Stanton said.
?We knew they would come out here and want to fight and I said to the blokes get ready for a fight because that is what they want to do, they don?t want us to play.
Despite the Bonnyrigg fans erupting after several refereeing decisions, Stanton didn?t see anything dubious about the calls.
?They [Bonnyrigg] were desperate and they were looking to use any means to get an advantage,? Stanton said.
?You can?t be critical of the referee because there was some silly things going on out there and he decided to clamp down,? he concluded.
But in the opposing dressing room, Bonnyrigg mentor Brian Brown wasn?t so impressed.
?We didn?t seem to get any decisions going our way tonight, it seemed like every decision went against us,? he said.
Despite the heartache of missing out on the finals, Brown was still pleased that his side achieved what they set out to do when he joined the club during the year.
?Our first aim was to avoid relegation, but Cliff [Pointer]? and I set pretty high standards so we expected to be in the playoffs but that?s not going to happen so it?s disappointing.?
Brown looks certain to be at the helm next year and hasn?t hidden the fact that there will be changes to the squad that takes the field in 2010.
?We will look to build a team for next year and put our team on the park instead of somebody else?s.?
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles (Mark D?Alessandro 58?)
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Panagiotis Nikas 50?, Brad Boardman 53?, 90?+3?)
Venue: Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Crowd: Approx 700
Referee: Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referees: Christian Mehl, Matt Colquhoun
Fourth Official: Andrew Brown
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1.Nenad Vekic; 2. Paul Cotte, 3.Graeme Forbes (8.Daniel Willoughby 70?), 5.Mark D?Alessandro, 15.Steven Bozinovski, 11.Almir Dizdaric, 12.Andre Gumprecht, 17.Milorad Simonovic, 18.Tayfun Devrimol (6.Ilkay Gurbuz 67?), 14.Domenic Cutri, 20.Milan Zoric
Substitutes Not Used: 23.Ali Akbal, 7.Aleks Tomic, 9.Emmanuel El Ali
Yellow Cards: Mark D?Alessandro 16?, 83?, Almir Dizdaric 45?+1?, 82?, Ilkay Gurbuz 75?
Red Cards: Almir Dizdairc 82?, Mark D?Alessandro 83
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 6.Chris Price, 11.Ben Spruce, 4.Michael Robinson, 15.Michael Katz, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 23.Panagiotis Nikas, 7.Jim Bakis, 9.Brad Boardman, 18.Neil Jablonski
Substitutes Not Used: 10.Matthew Hall, 8.Nathan Ralph, 17.Jordon Nikolovski, 22.Manni Fragogiannis, 13. Andrew Smith
Yellow Cards: George Souris 83?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Michael Chammas
Bonnyrigg succumb to Manly United pressure
The home-side came under the pump almost immediately from the kick-off with Keith Shevlin attempting an audacious bicycle-kick that went narrowly wide of the mark, leaving Nenad Vekic a very relieved goalkeeper for the White Eagles.
It wasn?t long before Manly United did take the lead though, when Graeme Forbes unwittingly headed past his own goalkeeper who didn?t call for the ball.
With the Bonnyrigg side shaken by the run of events, they almost conceded a second less than 60?? seconds later, but this time Shevlin hit a powerful left foot shot narrowly wide of the target.
The northern beaches side did double their lead in fabulous fashion as Robbie Cattanach put over a cross to the back stick that Shevlin nodded back across goal for Ashley Ryan to tap home. The White Eagles defenders, and goalkeeper alike, were left stranded as the visitors took a commanding lead.
Bonnyrigg attempted a fight-back though on 28? minutes Vekic produced a moment of brilliance when forced to save bravely at the feet of Jamie Garside; the Manly United player was forced from the field – replaced by Michael Lloyd-Green – after an earlier heavy knock.
Steven Bozinovski could have pulled one back almost immediately for the home-side but dallied too long on the ball and the effort was blocked, before Andre Gumprecht pulled the ball back across the face with no White Eagles player following in as the side just didn?t seem to click on the night.
Kojiro Kaimoto added another spectacular moment that would have seen the goal of the game when attempting a left-foot shot just inside the penalty-area. The Japanese import?s effort whisked past the angle of the up-right and crossbar – the chance leaving no doubt to the home supporters present that this was not to be Bonnyrigg?s night.
Cattanach added the third after a goalmouth scramble, and Manly United might have had a fourth 3? minutes later from Shevlin when first Vekic palmed away a shot and the striker followed up the rebound to see it cleared off the goal-line and away for a corner.
Shevlin did get his name on the scorer?s sheet on 65? minutes before Forbes made atones for his earlier indiscretion by netting at the right end from a Ryan Baldacchino corner; the defender ghosting through unmarked in the centre of the Manly United defence to head home whilst the visitors had Andrew Mailer off the pitch receiving treatment.
Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown commented afterwards:
?It?s not often I am stuck for words but we simply were not good enough tonight.
?It?s as though we left our energy at Edensor Park last weekend and I?m disappointed with the goals we?ve conceded as we gifted them some tonight.
?Our guys didn?t track back through the middle of the park and we got what we deserved tonight from a very good Manly side.?
Phil Moss stated: ?That?s a great result for the boys as they?ve taken a lot of flak over the last month and I thought it was a very dominant performance tonight.
?We won all of our individual contests and as a unit we?ve grasped the game and come away with the three-points.
?I?m proud of the way we?ve played, the execution and determination were there and we?ve got a few players back of course so very good all around.?
The Grade-20 match finished all square at one-apiece.
Math Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Graeme Forbes 83?)
Manly United FC 4 (Graeme Forbes (og) 16?, Ashley Ryan 28?, Robbie Cattanach 54?, Keith Shevlin 65?)
Wednesday, 15th of July, 2009
Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Bonnyrigg
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Assistant Referees: Steven Nguyen and Tushar Dhar
Fourth Official: Miles Allen-Scott
Attendance: 250
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1.Nenad Vekic; 2.Paul Cotte, 3.Graeme Forbes, 4.Kojiro Kaimoto, 9.Jay Lucas (6.Ilkay Gurbuz 63?), 11.Almir Dizdaric, 12.Andre Gumprecht, 13.Ryan Baldacchino, 14.Domenic Cutri, 15.Steven Bozinovski, 17.Milorad Simonovic
Substitutes Not Used: 23.Ali Akbal, 5.Mark D?Alessandro, 18.Tayfun Devrimol, 20.Milan Zoric
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Manly United FC: 1.Brad Swancott; 2.Sean Bowden, 3.Andrew Mailer, 4.Spencer Prior, 6.Scott Thomas, 7.Ashley Ryan (24.Luke Reading 66?), 9.Robbie Cattanach (10.Giosue Sama 60?), 12.Jamie Garside (8.Michael Lloyd-Green 39?), 15.Keith Shevlin, 16.Joey Schirripa, 20.Matthew Bingley
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Dylan Mitchell, 24.Bradley Groves
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Micky Brock
Round 19 TeleChoice Premier League Live Event Log – Sydney United v Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Unfortunately due to poor weather the Grade 20 match between Sydney United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date. Please be sure to check Football NSW? website for further details.
In what shapes up to be a make or break game for these two sides, Sydney United need to maintain a buffer over Bankstown to wrap you the TeleChoice Premier League Premiership, whilst Bonnyrigg White Eagles need all 3 points to keep up with the top five. The match is delicately poised and looks likely to be an entertaining clash.
Team Line-ups
Sydney United
1.Vedran Janjetovic; 4.Milan Bosnar, 5.Damon Collina, 6.Joe Vrkic, 7.Todd Brodie, 3.Roger Galayini, 26.Karl Dodd, 16.Mitchell Thompson, 9.David Zdrilic,19.Elsid Barkhousir, 45. Sam Munro
Substitutes: 24.Andrija Petkovic, 30.Michael Frost. 12.Davor Bajsic, 11.Luka Glavas, 10. Ante Milicic
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
1.Nenad Vekic; 2.Paul Cotte, 3.Graeme Forbes, 4.Kojiro Kaimoto, 5.Mark D?Alessandro, 15.Steven Bosinovski, 9.Jay Lucas, 11.Almir Dizdaric, 12.Andre Gumprecht, 17.Milorad Simonovic, 18. Tayfun Devrimol
Substitutes: 23.Ali Akbal, 6. Ilkay Gurbuz,13.Ryan Baldacchino, 14.Domenic Cutri, 20. Milan Zoric
Event Log
12:00 Kick Off!
1? ? Foul on Barkhousir (SU) gets freekick in a dangerous position.
2? ? Whipped in by Thompson (SU) and almost a goal to Barkhousir (SU). Free header at the far post hits the side netting.
7? ? After an early chance the game has settled down a touch and is getting very cagey. A lot is at stake for these two sides.
10? ? Volley by Galayini (SU) outside the box goes well wide.
12? ? Freekick by Bosinovski (BWE) out on the left floated in and misses everybody just fading past the far post of Janjetovic?s? (SU) goal.
14? – Barkhousir (SU) misses an excellent chance. Put through one on one with the keeper he hits it just over the bar.
15? ? Shot by Gumprecht (BWE) from well outside the box is easy for Janjetovic (SU)
18? ? GOAL! to Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Back to back corners saw Sydney United scrambling in defence. Goal mouth scramble saw the ball fall to Almir Dizdaric (BWE) who on the turn volleyed home a thunderous shot which saw Janjetovic (SU) well beaten. 0-1.
25? ? Sydney United look slightly rattled with Bonnyrigg White Eagles looking very dangerous on the counter attack.
30? ? Both captains getting a stern talking to by the Referee. Challenges are flying in thick and fast.
32? ? Shot by Thompson (SU) deflected away. Looked like sneaking in at the far post.
34? ? Another half chance falls to United, with Barkhousir (SU) stealing the ball from Devrimol (BWE) and putting in a cross which is just taken off the forehead of Galayini (SU) by the Bonnyrigg defence.
41? ? Yellow Card to Thompson (SU) for a clumsy challenge in the air.
44? ? Substitution for Sydney United. A forced change, Bosnar seems to have gone down injured. He is taken off for Luka Glavas (SU). Karl Dodd (SU) has slotted back at stopper.
Half Time! Sydney United look to be in control when they have the ball, but they can?t put that final pass together. Bonnyrigg White Eagles look excellent on the counter, stretching Sydney United across the park. Bosnar?s (SU) unfortunate injury has seen Sydney United revert to a conventional 4-4-2 which will see them attack more in the second half.
13:02 ? Second Half kicks off!
48? ? Another half chance falls to United with Galayini (SU) getting into an excellent position for a cross put picks out a Bonnyrigg defender.
52? ? A floated shot by Thompson (SU) just over the bar.
54? ? Excellent football by Sydney United, Munro (SU) to Galayini (SU), who then put Brodie (SU) through on the far right ? put in an excellent cross which Zdrilic (SU) failed to header goal wards. United look the better side after the break.
58? ? Yellow Card to Vrkic (SU) for what looks to be some extra back chat.
61? ? Shot by Bosinovski (BWE) well wide
61? ? Substitution for Sydney United. Todd Brodie (SU) replaced by Davor Bajsic (SU)
64? ? Yellow Card to D?Alessandro (BWE) for a silly challenge on Barkhousir (SU).
64? ? Yellow Card to Glavas (SU)
65? ? Yellow Card to Bajsic (SU) for diving
68? ? Excellent chance for Sydney United again! Bajsic (SU) floated in a freekick from centre field. A Collina flick on inside the box aimed directly at Vekic (SU).
73? ? Good play by Bonnyrigg White Eagles saw Simonovic (BWE) with an excellent chance outside the box. He pulled the shot wide and should have done better.
75? ? Substitution for Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Steven Bosinovski (BWE) replaced by Domenic Cutri (BWE)
77? ? Barkhousir (SU) shoots wide
77? ? Substitution for Sydney United. David Zdrilic (SU) replaced by Ante Milicic (SU)
80? ? Another half chance for Sydney United! Collina (SU) with a excellently weighted cross outside the box which was headed over the bar by Bajsic (SU).
81? ? A foul on Simonovic (BWE) by Thompson (SU) outside the box presents an excellent chance for Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Hits the Bar! Jay Lucas (BWE) with an excellent freekick fools Janjetovic (SU) who was stranded. Goal scorer Almir Dizdaric (BWE) missed the follow up chance with a header over the bar.
86? ? A foul by D?Alessandro (BWE) on Milicic (SU) presents an excellent chance for United outside the box.
89? ? Freekick GOAL! to Sydney United. Davor Basjic (SU) with an expertly taken freekick. Passing Vekic (BWE) who had no chance. 1-1
90? ? Substitution for Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Mark D?Alessandro (BWE) off, Milan Zoric (BWE) on.
90? ? ALMOST! A goal at the death for United. Galayini (SU) with an excellent ball across the face of goal. Glavas (SU) with a difficult chance could not reach far enough to slot home.
90?+ ? Another chance! Barkhousir (SU) went down in the box. Referee awarded the striker with a Yellow Card for diving.
90?+ ? Shot by Munro (SU) outside the box saved by Vekic (BWE)
90?+ ? Yellow Card for Paul Cotte (BWE)
FINAL SCORE SYDNEY UNITED 1 – BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES 1
Statistics
Score: Sydney United 1 (Davor Basjic 89?) ? Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Almir Dizdaric 18?)
Shots On (Off): SU 4 (7) BWE 3 (4)
Fouls Commited: SU 20 BWE 17
Yellow Cards: SU: Thompson (SU) 41?, Vrkic (SU) 58?, Glavas (SU) 64?, Bajsic (SU) 65?, Barkhousir (SU) 90? BWE: D?Alessandro (BWE) 64? Paul Cotte (BWE) 90?+
Corners: SU 1 BWE 3
Offsides: SU 1 BWE 4
Sydney United v Bonnyrigg White Eagles Event Updates
As a reminder, the Round 19 fixture between Sydney United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles will not be open to the general public as a safety and public order issue.
Following a review of security arrangements which involved the NSW Police, the Round 19 clash scheduled for Sunday July 12th at the Sydney United Sports Centre will only be open to accredited members of the Sydney United Football Club and private box holders.
The number of person which fall into this category is approximately 250 individuals.
Strict security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all players, officials, members and local residents.
Parents, partners and relatives of players and of match officials will not be able to gain entry to the match.
The arrangement for match day entry has been agreed between Sydney United, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Football NSW and the NSW Police Force.
This will protect the match from any outside influences not connected with the sporting contest between these two iconic clubs.
All media groups have also been restricted access to the game.
A match report and photographs of the match will be available through Football NSW.
As reference, the corresponding Round 8 fixture played between these two clubs on the 25th of April 2009 also followed similar guidelines put in place during this fixture. The match resulted in a one all draw and the game was without incident.
For any media enquiries please contact either Media Manager Mark Stavroulakis (8814 4416) or Public Relations Coordinator Bruce Da Silva (8814 4460).