Sharks shine over Rangers in Friday night goal bonanza

Sutherland Sharks made it back-to-back wins after a 3-2 victory over Mt Druitt Town Rangers under the Friday night lights at Popondetta Park.

Jason Madonis opened the scoring for the visitors through a penalty kick but Mt Druitt Town Rangers battled hard and found a first half equaliser through Jack Stewart from a well-worked goal.

James Andrew made it 2-1 for the Sharks and substitute Mitch Smith took it to three with a strike against his old side.

The hosts pulled themselves back within one late in the piece through Fumoto Kamada but they still are searching for their first win of the year.

For Sutherland, it was a solid performance to register back-to-back wins as they have slowly shown to the rest of the NPL NSW Men’s competition they really mean business.

The Sharks took an early bite out of the Rangers defence from the spot after Harry Callahan was fouled inside the area which allowed Madonis to step up.

Rarely does Madonis miss from the spot as he put the visitors up 1-0, his third of the year, much to the dismay of the home crowd who braved the wet weather conditions.

It was almost double delight for the Sharks on the counter as Patrick O’Shea led the attack and played in sharpshooter James Andrew who thrashed his effort wide of the post.

Looking to spark the Rangers, Jack Stewart got himself involved.

The home side’s top scorer last season had a pair of strikes in quick succession, stinging the palms of Sharks keeper Anthony Bouzanis who saved well.

The Rangers would find an equaliser in the 18th minute through Stewart.

Some delightful interplay from Diogo Barbosa and Fumoto Kamada created the space for the ace striker who took a touch before he nestled the ball into the bottom corner for 1-1.

John Roberts almost sealed another goal  for Rangers minutes later.

He latched onto a loose back pass from the Sharks defence before he put the shot straight at Sharks custodian Bouzanis.

The visitors took back the lead just before the half-time break.

A superb defence splitting pass from Lukman Ahmed Shaibu found speedster Andrew in stride.

Andrew took the ball in his stride, sprinted into the area and finished well to make it 2-1 and his third for the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s campaign.

There was one more chance before the whistle for the Sharks as Callahan found a pocket of space and unfurled an effort which took a deflection, but Rangers keeper Robert Fanella made a fantastic save to keep it at 2-1 at the break.

Coming out of the break, Sharks were feeling just fine with Callahan again causing chaos running through the midfield before he struck one right at the keeper.

Sutherland Sharks got a richly-deserved third goal in the 79th minute.

Madonis drove through the Rangers midfield before he picked out substitute Mitch Smith and the former Ranger steadied himself and fired home to make it 3-1.

There was some late intrigue when Rangers pulled a goal back just before injury time.

Substitute Bul Juach’s shot was saved by Bouzanis, but it was played into the path of Kamada who thrashed home to make it 3-2.

The Shire boys were able to hold on for a vital three points in five minutes of added time despite some pressure from the Rangers, who will be frustrated for not getting anything out of the contest as they notched up their third loss of the season.

Speaking post-match, Mt Druitt Town Rangers assistant coach Stamati Glaros felt like it was Groundhog Day for his side after another similar result.

“We are four rounds in and this is the story of our season,” he said.

“We beat ourselves tonight.

“The boys get the same feedback each week but there is a long time left.

“Competitions aren’t won in the first month so we will try to improve and take the lessons into next week.”

Sutherland Sharks coach Nick Dimovski was delighted with the effort from his side to record rare back-to-back wins for the shire side.

“I thought we controlled the game, dominated and at times were our own worst enemies,” he explained.

“We should’ve killed off the games at 3-1 but we kept the Rangers in the game.

“I thought we were the better side tonight.

“It has been a long time since we won back-to-back, so we’re stoked.

“I’m very proud to guide this club around.

“I got to this club when I was 14 and spent a quarter of my life here so the club is a huge part of my life.

“When we have won two in a row, the boys are buzzing in there.”

Match Stats

Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Stewart ‘18, Kamada ’90)

Sutherland Sharks FC 3 (Madonis ‘6, Andrew ‘37, Smith ‘79)

Friday 25 March 2022

Popondetta Park, Emerton

Referee: Karl Davies

Assistant Referees: Matthew Staples and Joon Park

Fourth Official: Chloe Gray

Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 4. Travis Oughtred, 6. Louis Khoury (26. Rocco Fragale ‘85), 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Jason Perez, 9. John Roberts (30. Richard Cardozo ‘60), 10. Diogo Barbosa (19. Bul Juach ‘60), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 12, Jake Trajkovski (22. Rhett De Silva ‘74), 17. Cooper Coskerie, 20. Robert Fanella, 21. Tarek Elrich

Substitutes Not Used: 5. Peter Nichols

Yellow Cards: Barbosa, Trajkovski, Kamada

Red Cards: Nil

Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Anthony Bouzanis, 2. James Baldacchino, 6. Pat O’Shea, 7. Harry Callahan, 8. Jason Madonis (9. Jeremy Cox ‘86) 12. Ahmed Lukman  Shaibu (18. Mitch Smith ‘69), 14. Chris Lindsay (10. Lachlan Everett ‘75), 17. James Andrew (11. Nikola Taneski ‘86), 21. Michael Neill, 22. Nick Sullivan (3.Gabriel  Contigiani ‘75), 23. Mark Rodic

Substitutes Not Used: 26. Cremen-Cowan Jacob

Yellow Cards: Neill

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Jason Madonis (SS)

2 – James Andrew (SS)

1 – Jack Stewart (MDTR)

By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)