Bankstown City and Sydney United draw blanks at Jensen
09.03.08 02:05
Bankstown City skipper
George Nohra was one of his side's stand-out players in their
scoreless draw against Sydney United on Saturday
Bankstown City again fell short of claiming maximum points from
a League fixture this season following the scoreless draw against
Sydney United.
Sydney United –
unbeaten in their opening two fixtures – was provided with some
stern opposition, as title contenders Bankstown City failed to
convert their dominance of possession into goals.
Without the
services of suspended stars Peter Tsekenis and Danny Slaveski,
Tsekenis and Assistant Peter Papoythis were forced to also make-do
without play-maker Robbie Mileski.
Sydney United boss
Ivan Petkovic had the luxury of fielding the same starting eleven
for the second successive weekend, though the opening stages of the
Saturday evening clash did not reflect the fluid attacking play of
the Capitol Hill Estate Cup one-week earlier.
The home-side was
quick of the blocks with Shane Webb stretching his legs early.
Webb’s fine burst down the left-flank inside of the first-minute
produced an opening for Paul Harries – the former Sutherland Sharks
striker hooked his volleyed effort over the cross-bar.
The Jensen
Park crowd was left confused after 4’ minutes, as referee Strebre
Delovski approached the Sydney United bench.
Clarification of
the incident arrived moments later when Sydney United goal-keeper
Vedran Janjetovic changed his jersey – the red-coloured jersey
clashed with that of Bankstown City and, somewhat unbelievably, was
not picked up prior to kick-off.
Bankstown City almost found the opener after 9’ minutes.
Harries was the provider, his cross from the left met Stefce
Soleski’s left-footed volley – the midfielder’s effort was not clean
off the boot, though Janjetovic pulled off a remarkable save with
his right foot as he had already committed to his left.
The home-side held a monopoly of possession, though Sydney United
would hit Bankstown on the counter-attack.
Todd Brodie and Ivo Bosnar were the main outlets for the visitors -
their vision out of midfield, along with the quick interplay between
Luka Glavas and Elsid Barkhousir, kept the Bankstown rear guard
alert.
In the 15’ minute, Steve Liavas and man-of-the-match James Monie
combined well on the right-flank – the latter sending the speedy
winger into space, though Liavas’ attempted cut-back across the face
of goal was judged to have crossed the byline.
Two-goal hero for Sydney United, against Marconi Stallions, last
weekend Luka Glavas rallied his troops when he controlled well and
found a yard of space inside the Bankstown half, though his
long-range shot ended well-wide of the goal.
George Nohra had arguably the best chance of the encounter in the
28’ minute when Steve Liavas’ cross from the right – missed by Paul
Harries – fell to Nohra.
The Bankstown central midfielder – who was not a certain starter
until minutes before kick-off due to a groin injury – failed to hit
the target from close-range.
James Monie came to life in the 31’ minute with a slalom effort from
the half-way line.
The attacking midfielder, who played the role of lynch-pin to the
strikers to perfection, evaded the challenges of no-less than three
adversaries, before earning his side a free-kick from a central
position.
Phillip Makrys’ free-kick summed-up the home side’s evening, moments
later – the low-driven effort found its way past the wall though
finished well-wide of goal.
Janjetovic closed out the half with a brave save at the feet of
Monie. Steve Liavas’ dangerous cross was claimed by the Reds’
shot-stopper, despite the challenge of the Bankstown midfielder.
The midfield battle rolled-on into the second-half as neither side
was capable of gaining the ascendancy.
Sydney United did come out of their shell after a counter-attacking
first 45’ minutes, with the best chances arriving via the quick feet
of youngster Andrija Petkovic on the left-flank.
Shane Webb had Bankstown City supporters out of their seats on 54’
minutes when he met a through ball on the left-flank.
Webb’s effort – a cross-turn-shot – certainly woke Janjetovic in the
Reds’ goal with a dipping effort as the shot-stopper saved at the
first attempt.
Glavas continued to battle away against a solid Bankstown back-line,
he was rewarded for his perseverance with a half-chance after
skipping past two Bankstown defenders.
Glavas volleyed the ball goal-wards, though the effort failed to
test Zlatko Josevski.
James Monie seemed the most likely outlet for Bankstown with his
interplay out of midfield, though chances to Soleski, and debutant
Matthew Borg, were not converted.
Sydney United introduced A-League side Sydney FC team-member, Ben
Vidaic, his first appearance for this club this season, and his
physical presence was immediately felt.
Despite the great battle in the centre of the park though,
supporters – from both sides – would not be treated to a
final-minute decider as Sydney United scuffed a free-kick in the
dying minutes of the encounter, from the boot of Ivo Bosnar.
Following the
match, Bankstown City Assistant coach Peter Papoythis expressed his
disappointment as his side remains win-less after three TeleChoice
Premier League starts:
“Tonight was a re-cap of the
story of our season so far – pre-season included. We created chances
and dominated possession for large spells, though failed to find the
back of the net. It’s the way things are at the moment.
“We did some
things well tonight; Paul Harries started and did well despite
tiring towards the end.
“Obviously I am
not happy with the result, though with the amount of possession we
manage to hold onto, we hope to start finding the back of the net.”
Sydney United boss
Ivan Petkovic accepted the point from the match, though believed his
side could have snatched the win:
“We played a
strong side tonight and managed to take a point away from them.
“I think the
result was a fair one, and I believe that not too many teams will
come to this ground Jensen Park and get points from Bankstown City –
they are a very good side.
“Even though we
should be happy with one-point, I did think that we could have been
a little bit more direct, and precise, tonight.
“Our final passes
were not accurate and we really could have got a win if we managed
to play those final passes better.”
Match Stats
Bankstown City 0
Sydney United 0
Bankstown City:
1.
Zlatko Josevski; 2. Ibrahim Haydar, 3. Shane Webb, 5. Richard Luksic,
7. Steve Liavas, 8. George Nohra (C), 9. James Monie, 11. Phillip
Makrys, 12. Stefce Soleski, 16. Tayfun Devrimol, 19. Paul Harries
(36. Matthew Borg 69’)
Substitutes not
used:
15. Jonathan Jackson, 18. Omar Saadi, 27. W. Angel, 20. A. Bozi
Yellow Cards:
Nil.
Sydney United:
30.
Vedran Janjetovic; 3. Josip Moric, 5. Damon Collina, 6. Joe Vrkic
(C), 21. Sash Trajcevski, 7. Todd Brodie, 14. Petar Markovic, 23.
Ivo Bosnar, 18. Andrija Petkovic (19.
Mitchell Thompson 60’),
16. Elsid Barkhousir (13.
Ben Vidaic 51’),
11. Luka Glavas (22.
Dennis Cutura 89’)
Substitutes not
used:
24. <st1:City><st1:place>Antony</st1:place></st1:City>
Golec, 1. Michael Turnbull
Yellow Cards:
Nil
Ground:
Jensen Park
Referee:
Strebre
Delovski
Assistant
Referees:
Adam Dayeian, Dale
Fuda
Fourth Official:
Adam Weir
Crowd:
Approx. 600
Player Ratings:
3 – James Monie
(BC)
2 – Petar Markovic
(SU)
1 – George Nohra
(BC)
-By Joseph
Carlucci
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