Bayswater defeat Dianella by Single Goal

Dianella Coach Petra Drca had a number of selection dilemmas still missing central defenders Igor Ilijic (hamstring injury) & Pavle Kuvekalovic (overseas) who he hopes to have back next week plus a number of other 1^st team regulars still injured including Branimir Dragojevic (ankle) & Dejan Djukanovic (hamstring). Coach Drca gave starts to Kevin Carmona at right back & welcomed back Nick Davies from injury who was solid in the heart of the defence but surprised many with 4 strikers in the starting line up including Stefan Smiljanic in the middle of midfield and the most notable striker Jon Greenwood left on the bench.

Up against a formidable team on paper with extensive premier experience Bayswater’s performance disappointed many with what could only be described as a below par performance. Despite their hapless display Bayswater somehow managed to scrape through with a 1-0 win against an unlucky Dianella who were dominant in most areas for major parts of the game but were punished for their inept finishing missing six clear cut scoring opportunities but all credit to Bayswater for leaving Dianella Reserve with all three points on what were wet, wild & windy conditions.

The flavour of the game was set early on with the first real goal mouth action coming in the 7^th minute when Bayswater striker Tommy Jones powered through the centre to be met by a light shoulder to shoulder challenge by covering Dianella defender Kevin Carmona and much to the amusement of the crowd the striker went to ground like a power puff with experienced referee Dave Currie not fooled signalling play on as keeper Mathew Battigelli cleared. The referees patience was tested again shortly after with another embarrassing Bayswater dive which was left unpunished but finally in the 18^th minute when Bayswater’s Columbian defender C Gonzalez surged forward and dived in the box referee Dave Currie wasn’t fooled and brandished a yellow card to the offender.

Wes Ryder was busy going close with a powerful shot from 18 yards out in the 20^th min and Dianella appeared unlucky shortly after when Captain Dragan Njegic weaved his way into the Bayswater box with contact being made as he was felled with no penalty given. Tommy Jones was the main threat for Bayswater going close in the 30^th min with his free kick sprayed high & wide after another Kevin Carmona challenge. The Dianella defence looked solid with Goran Radinovic a tower of strength winning everything in the air and on the ground allowing fellow defender Riste (the fox) Stefoski to venture forward at times notably in the 33^rd min when his weaving run saw him beat 4 players on his way forward but his final pass was intercepted and cleared by the desperate Bayswater defence. Captain Dragan Njegic & fellow striker Rodrigo Aguirre were well held on the day by Bayswater’s Columbian import C Gonzalez who also doubled as a box to box midfielder at times with his ‘far lap’ heart and best on ground performance.

With the score 0-0 at half time Dianella Coach Petra Drca made a change at right back replacing Kevin Carmona from his unfamiliar role with Jovan Djukanovic.

 

The second half started with Bayswater replacing Tommy Jones and it was left to the oher ‘Jones’ boy Anthony to get into the thick of things initially Anthony Jones whose powerful volley in the 46^th min from a corner flew just wide of diving keeper Mathew Battigelli who had it covered and again in the 48^th min when Anthony clattered Dianellas Wes Ryder bringing an end to his powerful run. Ryders quick free kick to Stefan Drca resulted in his shot being well saved by the well positioned Bayswater custodian Bobson Koroma who was an intimidating figure to the homes sides strikers with his size and loud communication.

Captain Dragan Njegic could have had a brace as could have Stefan Drca on the day with Njegic going close again in the 52^nd min with his powerful shot from another Wes Ryder cross after he broke free courtesy of another header won by Stefan Smiljanic who was winning everything in the air in the middle of the park but failed to gel in his central role with Mario Lucic.

It only takes one goal to win a game and Bayswater’s solitary goal came in the 58^th min at the back post much to the disgust of the ball watching defence who were caught out on this one off occasion.

With the home sides crowd chanting “greeny”, “greeny”, “greedy”, Coach Petra Drca reacted almost immediately resting Mario Lucic, whose pairing with Stefan Smiljanic failed to deliver on the coaches expectations, hoping for prolific striker Jonathon Greenwood to save the day. But it was the Jones boys who were doing the shooting albeit inaccurately this time Anthony whose shot sailed high over the bay from 18 yards out. Ryan Jeans was busy running hard for Bayswater with little or no reward on the day as Bayswater’s delivery failed to find him or was cut out by the quick thinking Dianella defence most of the time. Ryan Jeans only real chance was in the 75^th min when an over confident Mathew Battigelli received a back pass and tried to dribble his way clear of Jeans who managed to rob him of the ball and amazingly with the goal begging somehow managed to shot wide which should have been Bayswater’s second goal.

Dianella were getting more desperate by the minute as Coach Drca threw caution to the wind in the 77^th min throwing three up front with Njegic, Aguirre & Greenwood all going close but desperate defending by Jason Lawton and man of the match C Gonzalez whose strong challenges particularly late in the game on Greenwood saved the day. Coach Drca played his final card desperately looking for a goal replacing a surprised Wes Ryder with Ognjen Radonic which almost had an immediate effect as Stefan Smiljanic solitary powerful surge forward saw him rolling the ball under his right foot as he weaved his way past two defenders before unleashing a diagonal shot from just inside the 18 yard box which beat the Bayswater custodian and rebounded off the far post but Ognjen Radonic was slow to react giving the visitors time to clear. Bayswater countered with their final scoring opportunity with a shot on goal that rebounded back into play off the post in the 83^rd min which Ryan Jeans had time to control but hit first time blasting high with an open goal at his mercy.

With time ticking away Bayswater were content to hit the corner flags and run the ball there at every opportunity to wind the clock down successfully securing the three points.

In the other games Dianella Reserves lost 1-2 and their U18s lost 1-9.

Dianella’s next league match will be on away against Wanneroo which will be another season defining game for the club which will go along way to determining Dianella’s contender or pretender status for the remainder of the 2009 season.

 

1ST TEAM PLAYERS	RESERVES TEAM PLAYERS	U18 PLAYERS
Squad # Name 1   Mathew Battigelli GK 2 Kevin Carmona 3   Nicholas Davies 4   Goran Radinovic 5 Riste Stefoski 6   Stefan Drca 7   Rodrigo Aguirre 8   Mario Lucic 9 Stefan Smiljanic 10 Dragan Njegic © 11 Wes Ryder 12   Jimmy (Dimce) Taneski (AWOL) 13   Jon Greenwood 14   Jovan Djukanovic 15 Igor Ilijic (INJ) 16 Milan Bogunovic (INJ) 17 Pavle Kuvekalovic (INJ) 18   Dejan Djukanovic (INJ)	Squad # Name 1 Justin Scarvaci GK 2 Dragomir Balic 3   Giorgi Kacurkov 4 Cvete Ristoski 5   Nicholas Davies 6 Rob Cibesku 7 Vladimir Naumovski 8 Slobadab Golub 9 Filip Rajakovic 10 Kris Spaseski 11 Ognjen Radonic 12 Peter Naigi 13   Daniel Bradshaw 14 Stevan Zecevic 15 Mladen Joncevski RGK 16	Squad # Name 1 Mladen Joncevski 2 Brandon Del Fabbro 3 Jack Fleming 4 Stevan Zecevic 5 Jack Williams 6 Darko Kitanoski 7 Kamell Ahmed 8 Zeljko Petrovic 9 Andon Andovski 10 Strahinja Mrkonjic 11 Nicholas Jackson 12 Nemanja Celebicanin 13 Luka Nenadic 14 Stefan Susa 15 Gonzalo Sepulveda 16 Nabaz Hussayn 17 Sinisa Relic ® 19 Philip Pyrchla 20 Igor Radmilovich (RGK)