Wollongong Wolves have moved one step closer to PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s finals qualification with a 2-1 victory against Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday.
The result moved Jacob Timpano’s side into the top five for the first time since the opening weeks of the season.
Goals to Peter Simonovski and Yuzo Tashiro were enough for the Wolves to claim the much needed three competition points as Bonnyrigg failed to give their fans the send off they desired in their final home match of the campaign.
Bonnyrigg made a fast start to the match and after only one minute the home side looked to hit the front but Taylor McDonald couldn’t direct his header on goal.
The White Eagles pushed forward and on the quarter hour mark Howard Fondyke tried a sneaky lob that went just wide of Justin Pasfield’s goal.
The Wolves should’ve been in front on 27 minutes.
Nick Montgomery thread a fantastic ball through the home side’s defence, finding Simonovski who only had Ryan Norval to beat. However, Simonovski lacked a decisive final touch as the White Eagles custodian stood tall to save well.
Simonovski made up for his miss and on 31 minutes had the away side in front. Yuzo Tashiro headed down a free kick from the Wolves striker who buried his volley beyond Norval.
The White Eagles almost answered back immediately as Martin Lo found the head of Greg Kondek at the far post, only for Pasfield to save comfortably.
Only three minutes after the break and the Wolves nearly doubled their advantage.
Bonnyrigg failed to deal with a cross into the box as the ball fell to Brendan Griffin, but the midfielder couldn’t beat Norval who made a quality save.
Ray Miller thought he had scored for Bonnyrigg in the 63rd minute but it was disallowed by the referee.
It was the Wolves that would find the next goal on 72 minutes.
Simonovski delivered a corner allowing Tashiro to rise highest in the box and head into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the White Eagles only a minute later as David Vrankovic received his marching orders.
The home side gave themselves a lifeline with just two minutes to go as substitute Asmir Kadric found the back of the net, tapping home at the far post.
But despite pushing hard, the White Eagles couldn’t create another chance to find an equaliser.
Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown felt it was a far too familiar feeling at full time.
“It was typical of the whole season for us,” he said.
“I thought we played well but were just lacking in that final third.
“I can’t fault the effort of the boys who put in a hard shift tonight.”
Wolves coach Jacob Timpano was pleased with his team’s performance.
“It’s always a tough game here at Bonnyrigg,” he said.
“I don’t think we started to well but once we got going I think we had the better chances.
“I’d say we dominated but when we scored the second goal we sat back and allowed them to score.”
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Kadric 88’)
Wollongong Wolves 2 (Simonovski 31’, Tashiro 72’)
Bonnyrigg Sports Ground, Bonnyrigg
Saturday, 29th July, 2017
Referee: C. Fisher
Assistant Referees: K. Robinson & N. Wotton
Fourth Official: A. Lyndon
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 40. Norval, 3. Vrankovic, 7. Kondek (18. Kadric 72’), 8. Fondyke, 10. Lo, 11. Spruce, 12. Gil, 14. McDonald, 15. Miller, 16. Gallaway, 37. Adeli.
Substitutes not used: 1. Chronopoulos, 13. McKenzie, 19. Ott, 27. Ivanovic.
Yellow Cards: Vrankovic 38’, 74’, Kondek 63’
Red Card: Vrankovic 74’
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Pasfield, 3. Madden (16. Antelmi 65’), 4. Morton, 6. Montgomery, 7. Price, 8. Griffin, 9. Simonovski, 15. Robinson, 17. O’Rourke, 23. Hayes, 30. Tashiro.
Substitutes not used: 52. Markovic, 10. Kambisios, 11. Tanoski, 12. Kairies.
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
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