Manly United prove too hungry for Rangers
Fortress Popondetta Park has finally been breached after twelve rounds, Manly United have defeated Mt Druitt Town Rangers who had yet to taste defeat at home succumbing to a 1-0 loss on a chilly Friday evening in Sydney’s West.
The victory for Manly has seen Adam Griffiths men move back into the five while Mount Druitt Town Rangers will rue a chance to solidify their spot in the top half of the ladder but the home side never got started tonight.
Rangers custodian Carlos Saliadarre made some key saves to keep them in the contest but it is back to the drawing board for Stewart Montgomery’s men next week.
The visitors took all three points and it was due to a surge at the start of the second half which saw Manly United striker Jack Fulton thrash home after a rebound.
The opening stages of the contest played out like a game of chess.
Both midfields controlled the game and tried to find their rhythm.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers were finding success down their wings with Fumoto Kamada putting in some wonderful crosses which just evaded the feet of both Mitchell Smith and sharpshooter Jack Stewart.
The visitors started to find their feet in the contest through Richard Cardozo. He stood over a central free kick which flew over the bar then James Georgaklis stung the palms of Saliadarre.
Closing in on the break, the game started to open up between the two sides.
Manly United had a late chance before the teams headed into the sheds. Georgaklis with the shot again which deflected for a corner but it was cleared as game was locked at 0-0.
Coming out the break, Manly United were feeling just fine.
The visitors piled up the chances right from the second half whistle, Dejan Pandurevic heavily involved and forced Saliadarre into a fantastic diving save.
Manly United did find a breakthrough in the 56th minute when the ball broke kindly for Fulton inside the box following another reflex Saliadarre save. The striker thrashed home to make it 1-0 to the Northern Beaches outfit.
Trying to respond quickly, Mount Druitt pushed forward through Kamada again. The switch found the winger in space which allowed him to cut it back for Smith to sweep out for a corner which was cleared.
Once again, Saliadarre had to make another huge stop to keep his side in the contest. The first was from the energetic Pandurevic then it fell to the feet of Manly United substitute Ben Gibson whose low effort was blocked wide.
It seemed like there was a one-on-one battle between Pandurevic and Saliadarre in the second half. Pandurevic again found space and fired in a chance which Saliadarre had to tip over the bar.
While the weather kept dropping, the game continued to sizzle.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers searched for an equaliser deep in injury time and almost got it.
A scramble from a corner went through a sea of legs and then fell to an unlikely source in big burly defender Blake Thompson who smashed the ball over the bar with that being the last piece of action as the full-time whistle.
Rangers coach Stewart Montgomery was disappointed with Friday’s result despite some fantastic saves from Saliadarre.
“We were beaten by a hungrier side tonight and got the result we deserved tonight.
“I don’t think either coach would have enjoyed the first half until it settled.
“It was always going to come down to who could control the ball and settle.” said Montgomery.
Manly United coach Adam Griffiths was pleased with the work from his side in the second half as they put together more chances and took maximum points.
“I thought we were deserved winners tonight.
“It is tough to come out here and win, we created a lot of chances but did enough to get the points.
“We worked on our reaction press and the easy pass to have a more competent second half that gave us the win.” said Griffiths.
Match Stats
Friday 14 May 2021
Popondetta Park, Emerton
Referee: M. Bailey
Assistant Referees: H. Fenton-White & E. Saba
Fourth Official: K. Yaghi
Mount Druitt Town Rangers 0
Manly United FC 1 (Fulton ‘56)
Mount Druitt Town Rangers: 1. SALIADARRE Carlos, 3. OUGHTRED Travis, 4. SMITH Mitchell (5. TUSON-FORTH ‘70), 6. THOMPSON Blake, 7. STEWART Jack, 8. PEREZ Jason (18. MACEROLA ‘57), 10. TSUJIMURA Takumu, 14. KAMADA Fumoto, 17. COSKERIE Cooper (16. SUNMOLA ‘86), 21. ELRICH Tarek, 33. WARREN Marc
Unused subs: 13. ALGARAWI Ahmed, 20. NICHOLS Peter, 22. MAMONE Jake
Yellow cards: Elrich, Perez, Warren
Red cards: nil
Manly United FC: 2. PAULL Kieran, 3. GEORGAKLIS James (5. GALLAGHER ‘66), 7. FULTON Jack (13. BALDERSON ‘88), 10. CARDOZO Richard (18. RAINBIRD ‘90+5), 12. KMET Luca (31. GIBSON ‘66), 14. PANDUREVIC Dejan, 15. PIRIZ Jesse, 16. KAMBAYASHI Seiya, 19. BENTON Sam, 20. AGANOVIC Alen, 24. ASHTON Finn
Unused subs: 1. MADDEN Jacob, 40. MATTISON Mitchell
Yellow cards: Balderson
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings
3 – Dejan Pandurevic (MU)
2 – Carlos Saliadarre (MDTR)
1 – Richard Cardozo (MU)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
