White Eagles 2 (Milan Santrac 44’, Nik Noveski 50’)drew. Queanbeyan City 2 (Nikola Trajkovski 9’, Ivan Pucoski 59’)

Words by Tom Young

League leaders Canberra White Eagles FC were held to a home draw by Queanbeyan City FC in an entertaining clash at Woden Park on Saturday.

The Eagles’ form of five straight wins indicated it was going to be a difficult afternoon for Queanbeyan, but the visitors failed to read the form guide, enjoying good periods of possession and applying pressure to the Eagles’ defence from the outset.

Queanbeyan’s persistence and the work rate of Loay Alsubhi in the centre of the park was rewarded in the 9th minute when they took the lead. Nikola Trajkovski found some space down the left and unleashed an unstoppable 25-metre strike that smashed into the underside of the crossbar and bounced down over the line.

Queanbeyan shot wide three minutes later before the Eagles settled and began to create chances of their own. On eighteen minutes a neat move down the right was almost met by the well positioned Dejan Santrac.

Further pressure was applied to the Queanbeyan defence through corners, a number of moves into the penalty area and the long throws of Callum Beaton, but the backline was holding firm with Vasko Petrovski and Mathew Ryan reading the play well.

Queanbeyan also continued to press forward searching for their second, with Goran Josifovksi shooting narrowly wide from inside the box on 36 minutes. Minutes later an Eagles through ball found Milan Santrac but Queanbeyan ‘keeper Jack Miller came sharply off his line to smother the chance.

On 43 minutes Beaton whipped in a cross from the right, and after a series of attempted finishes and clearances the ball rebounded into the Queanbyean net.

The Eagles nearly took the lead two minutes later with Milan Santrac narrowly missing a chance at the back post. 1-1 at the break.

The Eagles started the second half strongly, creating a number of early chances. A 50th minute clearance from ‘keeper Nicholas Owen led to some smart interchange play through the middle that resulted in Nikolce Noveski racing through on goal and neatly finishing the one-on-one chance.

Nikolce Noveski had another chance inside the area three minutes later but lifted the chance over the bar.

Queanbeyan responded well, and found their equaliser in the 58th minute from a move that began with a free kick in the centre circle. After some smart passing the ball was played through to Ivan Puckoski who finished neatly to the right of the advancing ‘keeper.

Both teams created chances during the next 10 minutes, with the Eagles coming closest when a well struck effort from Nikolce Noveski hit the post.

A tense midfield battle followed that was broken by an Eagles free kick within range of goal on 74 minutes. The initial attempt was blocked by the Queanbeyan wall before the long range follow up was expertly tipped over the bar by Jack Miller. Queanbeyan then withstood the pressure of three follow up corners.

Another period of midfield play followed with both teams looking for an opening for the winner. In the 86th minute the ball broke for Queanbyean’s Mohammad Akbari who surged forward in possession but was denied by a fine block from Eagles’ ‘keeper Nicholas Owen.

The Eagles created three further chances but the Queanbeyan defence stood firm.

The Eagles collected more points at home as many will have expected, but Queanbeyan will feel they could have taken all the points against the top side.

Other Results |

Brindabella Blues 0 def. by Narrabundah FC 3 (Matthew Atkins 10’, Elliot Yeatman 36’, Adrian Russell 76’)

Wagga City Wanderers 6 (Nick Kennedy 13’, 57’, Jake Ploenges 16’, Henri Gardner 55’, 73’, Frank Maciasdef. Southern Tablelands United 0

ANU FC 5 (Chase Deans 11’, Max Mottl 23’, Rowan Peterkin 30’, 61’, Andrew Manley 44’) def. Weston Molonglo 0