Bonnyrigg White Eagles come good in second half to win

Bonnyrigg White Eagles took on Maroni Stallions in a vital game of the NSW Premier League.

In the end Bonnyrigg White Eagles took all three points and after the game their coach Brian Brown was pleased.

“It was very exciting in the second half, but in the first half we probably didn’t get in behind them enough,” he said.

“I am delighted to get three points because Brad Boardman was sick all week, Jamie McMaster was out, Chris Tadrosse was out and Ben Spruce was out from this afternoon, so to miss four key players and play like that, I am very happy.”

The first real chance of the game belonged to Takuya Murayama who shot for the home side in the 17th minute, but it didn’t make the grade.

Alex Canak then went charging into the Stallions box but there was a miraculous tackle by Andrew Mailer to dispossess him of the ball at the vital moment.

The opening goal in the 35th minute was against the run of play when a Christopher Nunes cross made its way to Josh Sama who made no mistake as he powerfully finished off the move.

Just prior to the end of the first half Bonnyrigg could have, and probably should have, equalised.

A free-kick proved to be too much to handle for James Chronopoulos, but first Nikola Zonjic’s close range shot was blocked before Blake Powell shot over.

In the second half the early chances belonged to Bonnyrigg. It was Brendan Gan who fired just wide of the mark with a nice shot.

Bonnyrigg’s first goal arrived when Brad Boardman made no mistake in the 64th with his diagonal shot shortly after coming on as a substitute.

Bonnyrigg went further ahead two minutes later when a cross from Nathan Elasi made its way into the middle before Brendan Gan managed to flick the ball into the back of the net through a myriad of players. It was a great effort by the former Sydney FC player on the night.

In the 86th Blake Powell made it three for the home side and the game was definitely all over by then. A high bouncing ball was met beautifully by Powell who made no mistake with his shot.

Luke Casserly, Marconi’s coach, was philosophical after the game.

“We always go into every game to win, but Bonnyrigg away is not a game where you can pencil in three points,” he said.

“We were hopeful that we would get something out of this game and for a good 60 minutes we were there or thereabouts, but unfortunately we couldn’t do it for the whole game.

“It’s the next couple of games that are the must-win games if we are to get anything out of the season.”
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BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES 3
(Boardman 64’, Gan 66’, Powell 86’)
MARCONI STALLIONS 1
(Sama 35’)


BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES: 1. Andrew Bazi, 3. Nikola Zonjic (2. Nikola Stanojevic 92’), 7. Nathan Elasi, 8. Alex Canak, 10. Brendan Gan (4. Wade Oostendorp 92’), 12. Takuya Murayama, 11. Shane Webb (9. Bradley Boardman 57’), 14. Blake Powell, 17. Michael Robinson, 16. David Vrankovic, 22. Jared Lum


MARCONI: 22. James Chronopoulos, 2. Andrew Mailer, 3. Ali Haydar, 6. Brenton Rhodes, 8. Sean O’Connell, 9. Keith Shevlin (18. Nathan Jagelman 80’), 14. Graziano Trimboli, 20. Josh Sama, 23. Christopher Nunes, 24. Daniel Petkovski, 26. Nahuel Arrarte.