Blacktown first team to beat Bonnyrigg at home

Blacktown City FC defeated Bonnyrigg White Eagles thanks to a goal from Milorad Simonovic in the second half that separated both sides in what was an exciting encounter at the Bonnyrigg Sports Club.

After the game Blacktown City’s coach Mark Crittenden was gracious in victory but he certainly couldn’t hide his smile.

“To come to Bonnyrigg and get three points is fantastic,” he said.

“I thought the game looked pretty good and that the pace of the game was outstanding.

“Bonnyrigg have a nice one-two football game and if we had have walked out of here tonight with one point, I still probably would have been happy.”

In the 9th minute a clever free-kick from Blacktown City FC made its way to Milorad Simonovic who fired over the intended target in what was the first chance of the game.

Kain Rastall then hooked a shot wide for Blacktown City shortly afterwards when he really could have done a lot better.

Bonnyrigg’s reply was almost immediate when a poor back pass was nearly intercepted by the former Sydney FC player Brendan Gan, but somehow Simon Jaegar recovered in time and got his body behind the ball to prevent Gan from scoring from close range.

A long range effort from Blake Powell in the 21st minute was never really going to trouble Jaegar in goal and the visitors replied with what was almost the opening goal.

Simonovic’s shot in the 26th minute from just outside the box beat everyone, including goalkeeper Andrew Bazi, but not the crossbar as Bonnyrigg breathed a collective sigh of relief and Blacktown wondered about what could have been.

In the 36th minute Bonnyrigg went forward in a well-rehearsed move that saw a nice cross from the left by Benjamin Spruce find Alexander Canak in the middle, but unfortunately for the home team his forceful header was off target.

The first half of play ended scoreless but the game itself was of the highest quality despite the scoreboard attendant not being troubled.

During the break spectators wondered about what would break the deadlock and they nearly had their answer in the 48th minute when a Jared Lum free-kick was poorly punched way by Jaegar.

The ball was then flicked on by Powell in amongst a myriad of players before Travis Major miraculously cleared it off his own line.

A few minutes later another Lum free-kick threatened, but this time it only sailed over the wall and straight into the hands of an alert Jaegar.

In the 64th minute Blacktown City were thanking Jaegar when Jamie McMaster blasted in a ball that seemed certain to hit the back of the net until Jaegar tipped it over for a corner.

Nathan Elasi, who had only being on the field a few minutes, then took his time in the box to delightfully square a ball across for Chris Tadrosse, but the former A-League player fired over from close range when he really should have been more accurate given that he was unmarked.

Blacktown City scored the only goal in the 70th minute when a free-kick from the left was partially cleared by Bonnyrigg, but it only went as far as Simonovic who fired in a delightful shot that ended up in the bottom right hand corner of the net giving Bazi absolutely no chance.

A minute shy of fulltime Patrick Gatt appeared to block the ball with his arm inside the box, but it wasn’t to be a penalty for Bonnyrigg so late in the game.

Well into stoppage time Canak, with his back to goal, tried to be too cute and flick the ball on because he probably didn’t realise he was solo in front of goal and could have scored if he had have attempted a shot.

After the game their coach Brian Brown was disappointed but he certainly didn’t take anything away from Blacktown City.

“At the end of 90’ minutes a draw probably would have been a fair result,” he said.

“This is the first game we have lost at home this year, but credit to Blacktown because they are a good side that work their socks offs and probably they are the team that has worked hardest against us in both games.”


BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES 0
BLACKTOWN CITY FC 1
(Simonovic 70’)

BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES: 1. Andrew Bazi, 12. Takuya Murayama, 17. Michael Robinson, 16. David Vrankovic, 6. Benjamin Spruce (9. Bradley Boardman 77’), 14. Blake Powell (7. Nathan Elasi 62’), 22. Jared Lum (3. Nikola Zonjic 60’), 8. Alexander Canak, 5. Chris Tadrosse, 10. Brendan Gan, 19. Jamie McMaster


BLACKTOWN CITY FC: 1. Simon Jaegar, 3. Mitchell Duke (17. Adrian Jenner 63’), 5. Patrick Gatt, 4. Travis Major, 7. Luke Roodenburg, 9. Kain Rastall (8. David Cain 77’), 10. Mitch Long, 11. Milorad Simonovic, 13. Matt Lewis, 15. Ray Miller (13. Bruno Pivato 84’), 19. Zac Cairncross