Newcastle Jets scored twice in the game's final five minutes but could not prevent one in the game's final moments, resulting in a 2-2 draw with Bonnyrigg White Eagles on Wednesday night at the Bonnyrigg Sports Fields. The Jets did not dress James Brown, Zenon Caravella, Emile Heskey or Ben Kennedy, but there were plenty of A-League regulars available for Gary van Egmond.
Newcastle Jets can only draw Bonnyrigg White Eagles
A frenetic final five minutes saw three goals scored and the top flight side leaving Bonnyrigg without a victory.
The top flight visitors were the better side in the first half, challenging Bonnyrigg keeper Matt Nash on numerous occasions. Ruben Zadkovich, Joey Gibbs and Adam Taggart all forced saves from the New South Wales Premier League side, yet Nash managed to reach half-time with the score 0-0.
In the second half, the White Eagles were the aggressors, knocking in the game’s first goal through Adam Peterson on 50 minutes. It took another twenty-five minutes for the Jets to finally get on the score sheet as Bonnyrigg held firm with a one-goal lead. Finally, in the 85th minute, James Virgili leveled terms when he slotted home from a Ben Kantarovski pass. Just a minute later, Newcastle stunned their hosts when Taggart beat an offside trap and fed Virgili for his second goal in as many minutes.
Just when it seemed like the big club would escape with a dramatic victory, Newcastle ceded a free kick in the 89th minute which was headed in at the far post by Bonnyrigg’s substitute Nikola Zonjic. When the final whistle blew the score remained an even 2-2, giving the White Eagles a nice result and sending the Jets back up the coast without a victory.
Scoring:
BWE Peterson 50’
NUJ Virgili (Kantarovski) 85’
NUJ Virgili (Taggart) 86’
BWE Zonjic 89’
Starting Lineups:
BWE: Nash, Manseuto, Hesketh, Fondyke, Ucchino, Long, Chun, Peterson, Crighton, Younis, Tomasevic
NUJ: Birighitti, Neville (Goodwin 25’), Regan, Pepper, Hoole, Zadkovich, Kantaraovski, Gallaway, Taggart, Gibbs, Virgili
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