Bulls oust Rangers in midweek catch-up
The Northbridge Bulls recorded its fourth victory of the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s campaign following a hard fought 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Mount Druitt Town Rangers in a previously washed-out Round 18 match at Valentine Sports Park on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening.
A goal to Marcus Sparacino in the 66th minute ended up being the lone goal in the clash, which saw a tight battle between the two sides with chances few and far between.
While the points won’t mean the difference between finals football and an early finish as both teams are out of contention, the win will be valuable to the young Bulls who are always looking to develop and hold out for the full 90 to claim a win.
The Bulls came out firing and created the first chance of the match just 30 seconds after the whistle as Mason Wells capitalised on an opportunity and sent a strike towards goal, but Rangers ‘keeper Robert Fanella was quick to the task saving well.
Wells almost secured another in the 7th minute after a ball was crossed in to him in a central position.
He couldn’t manage to let off a shot and passed back to Stephan De Robillard, who fired a strike towards the target but was denied by a frantic Fanella.
Jack Stewart had an opportunity for Mt Druitt in the 20th minute but the in-form attacker failed to grab his name on the scoresheet.
De Robillard came back for the Bulls in the 22nd minute as he made a forward run and cut back inside before taking a shot that was tipped over by Fanella who was the busier of the two keepers in the first half.
A pacey run saw Northbridge with yet another opportunity through Jesper Webber in the 31st minute, but he was slightly off target as he weaved his way through opposing traffic and let off his shot.
Mt Druitt came close through Stewart in the 34th minute after Fumoto Kamada made a run upstream and passed back to Stewart, who sent a shot blistering towards goal, but Northbridge ‘keeper Levi Kaye was equal to the task.
Both sides continued to tussle and create chances through the remainder of the first half with Northbridge enjoying more opportunities than their counterparts but both sides headed into the half-time break without a goal.
The only goal of the match came in the 66th minute as Webber made a forward run down the right flank and cut back to Marcus Sparacino in a more central position.
Sparacino got on the end of the ball and tapped it home, past a diving Fanella.
It was the youngster’s maiden goal of the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s season.
The Rangers needed to reply and they went close following Northbridge’s opening goal.
Kamada made a run down the left in the 68th minute that saw Mt Druitt with a chance but his effort was deflected well outside the sticks.
Despite plenty of movement up and down the pitch, the only other real chance of the match fell in the 92nd minute.
Bulls Substitute Sebastian Hernandez pulled the trigger on a shot from range but a diving Fanella managed a sensational save to deny Northbridge of doubling their lead just before the final whistle.
Match Stats
Northbridge Bulls FC 1 (Marcus Sparacino 66’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0
Valentine Sportspark, Glenwood
Tuesday 12th July, 2022
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Emma Kocbek & Cameron Wright
Northbridge Bulls FC: 3. Nathan Dimou, 4. Anthony Sparacino, 5. Anthony Krilic, 6. Isaac Hovar (18. Sebastian Hernandez 74’), 7. Mason Wells, 8. Diego Bonilla (8. Jonathan Maras 90’), 11. Stephan De Robillard (17. Luka Sterjovski 90’), 12. Marcus Sparacino, 15. Jesper Webber (14. Rhys Youlley 78’), 16. Oliver Jones, 20. Levi Kaye
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Alexander Trajanoski, 40. Barry Griffin
Yellow Cards: Stephan De Robillard
Red Cards: Nil
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 7. Jack Stewart, 8. Jason Perez (6. Louis Khoury 74’), 9. John Roberts (23. Leonard Abdo 74’), 11. Fumoto Kamada, 17. Cooper Coskerie, 19. Bul Juach (18. Olayinka Sunmola 64’, 20. Robert Fanella, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva, 26. Rocco Fragale, 41. Ivan Sunjic (15. Brayden Burr 80 80’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Jerome Narayan, 25. Mohammed Sabbouh
Yellow Cards: Rocco Fragale, Jason Perez, John Roberts
Red Cards: Nil
