Goals galore as Mt Druitt celebrate seven goal thriller over Wolves
It was raining goals at Popondetta Park as Mt Druitt Town Rangers collected just their third victory of the NPL NSW Men’s season with a thrilling 4-3 victory against a gritty Wollongong Wolves outfit on Friday night.
Bul Juach was the hero for the hosts as he scored a first half brace alongside Jack Stewart’s goal for a 3-1 lead. John Roberts added a fourth in the second half.
Wollongong Wolves were gallant in defeat however and gave it their all till the very end.
Lachlan Scott fired home a brace for the visitors – one from the spot and the other a header – alongside yet another trademark header from Japanese import Banri Kanaizumi which brought it back to 4-3.
On a cold evening at Popondetta Park, the action heated up early as visitors Wollongong Wolves had an effort within the first minute through sharpshooter Scott which flew wide.
Stewart inspired the Mt Druitt Town Rangers NAIDOC week jerseys worn on the night responded with a weaving effort of his own in the 13th minute which was saved by Hayden Durose.
The prolific striker was on target with his second effort. Stewart found an inch of space and rifled into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 Mt Druitt Town Rangers as the proud Indigenous star added to his tally of 10 for the 2022 season.
Buoyed by the opener, Mt Druitt Town Rangers almost doubled the score in the 26th minute. Fumoto Kamada slalomed through a flurry of defenders but couldn’t squeeze his effort inside the post.
The visitors though levelled the game with a penalty on the half hour mark. Scott coolly stepped up to take and rolled it into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Stewart continued to be a nuisance for the Wolves defence. The striker curled a free-kick towards the top corner which produced a superb save from Durose.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers restored their lead in the 36th minute much to the delight of the brave locals that were in attendance. Juach curled home an absolute beauty to make it 2-1.
The hosts made it a two-goal advantage right on half-time. A set piece was swung onto the head of Solomon-John Monahan Vaiika that was then touched home by Juach for 3-1.
Sprinting out of the break, the Wolves had a pair of chances trying to bite into the two-goal deficit. Nikola Djordjevic thrashed wide then Leroy Jennings skewed wide minutes later.
The Wolves did pull a goal back just before the hour mark. A free-kick was swung in and found the head of Scott who nodded home to make it 3-2 as the ace marksman hit home his 13th goal of the year.
It started to open up for both sides as the match headed into the final half hour. Scott was the danger for the Wolves with a few efforts then Mt Druitt almost scored on the counter.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers once again restored their two-goal advantage with a nice goal in the 69th minute. John Roberts swiveled well before he slotted home to make it 4-2 for the hosts.
Wollongong Wolves though refused to go away in the contest. The visitors scored from another set piece when the header from Kanaizumi squirmed into the net for 4-3.
Substitute Kuol Maliet was almost the hero for the Wolves. The youngster drove onto a ball and rode it into the penalty area before he directed his shot right at Mt Druitt custodian Robert Fanella.
Speaking post-match, a jubilant Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Stewart Montgomery was delighted with his side’s effort and how his troops have strung together some good results during the second half of the NPL NSW Men’s season.
“It was a pretty decisive win for us tonight. It reminded us of the Sydney United 58 game where we lost our shape and invited them back in. We conceded off three set pieces tonight.
“It’s important for us to have gotten 10 results in our last 18 games. We roll onto Northbridge Bulls in our Round 18 catch up match on Tuesday night.
“I am proud of the boys, they’ve dug deep this season and in the last 10 games we’ve done well.” said Montgomery.
Montgomery also remarked on their NAIDOC strip inspired by striker Jack Stewart.
“It is NAIDOC week which Jack is proud to be a part of. Western Sydney has a strong Indigenous community and we want to support them.” finished Montgomery.
For Wolves coach Luke Wilkshire, it was a game of two halves.
“It was a game of two halves.
“I thought we were the better side in the second half but not in the first.
“I was disappointed by some of the goals we gave up.
“I was happy with our response as we won the second half 2-1 but it was hard after going down 3-1.” said Wilkshire.
“We have three games left, two of those at home. We have pride as a club and we will keep playing till that final whistle sounds at the end of the season.”
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4 (Stewart ‘23, Juach ‘36, ‘45+2, Roberts ‘69)
Wollongong Wolves 3 (Scott ‘30, ‘57, Kanaizumi ‘79)
Friday 8th July 2022
Popondetta Park, Emerton
Referee: Craig Fisher
Assistant Referees: Emma Kocbek & Joel Crawford
Fourth Official: Logan Jones
Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 1. Robert Fanella, 2. Rhett Desilva, 4. Cooper Coskerie, 5. Bul Juach (12. Mohammed Sabbouh ‘90+2), 6. Rocco Fragale, 7. Jack Stewart (14. Olayinka Sunmola ‘45), 8. Jason Perez, 9. John Roberts, 10. Tarek Elrich, 11. Fumoto Kamada, 19. Solomon-John Monahan Vaiika (21. Ivan Sunjic ‘75)
Unused subs: 13. Louis Khoury, 15. Brayden Burr, 30. Jerome Narayan
Yellow cards: Desilva ‘30, Fanella ‘85
Red cards:
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Hayden Durose, 3. Darcy Madden (16. Guy Knight ‘10 (12. Harrison Taranto ‘84)), 4. Nikola Djordjevic, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Senna Stevenson (10. Takumu Tsujimura ‘45), 8. Brendan Griffin, 11. Josh McDonald (25. Nav Darjani ‘45), 15. Nick Littler, 17. Marcus Beattie, 19. Jake Lavalle (20. Kuot Maliet ‘79), 22. Leroy Jennings, 24. Lachlan Scott
Unused subs: 13. Tomas Butkovic
Yellow cards: Griffin ‘38, Taranto ‘90+1
Red cards:
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
