Points shared at Popondetta Park

Honours were even on Friday evening as the Mt Druitt Town Rangers and NWS Spirit FC played out a gritty 0-0 draw at Popondetta Park.

It was the Rangers’ first home match of 2023 as Popondetta Park received a touch up with the pitch looking immaculate although there was very little action and goals which sadly put a dampener on the Round 6 fixture.

It was the visitors who looked the more likely to score across the ninety minutes, but their lack of finishing yet again let them down.

The hosts did have two golden chances through Kotaro Katsuta and Anthony Frangie but both teams settled for a point.

NWS Spirit FC kicked off the match with more vigor as they asserted their authority on the match early on.

Corey Kavanagh was an energizer bunny down the flanks for the visitors and looked menacing early on.

Kavanagh gave the visitors their first chance of the contest. The marauding right-back whipped in a free-kick which Musashi Kukubo sprayed wide of the mark.

Once again it was a move started by Kavanagh which saw NWS Spirit FC slice through the Mt Druitt Town Rangers defence.

Ollie Wiggin then fizzed a ball across the area which Michael Konestabo fired over the bar.

It was mostly one-way traffic in the first half as NWS Spirit FC dominated ball possession. Kavanagh shot wide then Konestabo was denied by a Nikola Djordjevic lunge minutes later.

Late in the half, Mt Druitt Town Rangers had their only shot of the match courtesy of a free-kick. Cooper Coskerie stood over the set piece and whipped it over the bar as the first half ended scoreless.

There was more energy from the home side in the second half and that energy almost paid off. Katsuto’s strike was tipped over by an athletic Christopher Marques underneath the NWS Spirit goals.

NWS Spirit FC settled back into their rhythm and held much of the ball once more. Konestabo had a pair of chances which stung the palms of Mt Druitt Town Rangers custodian Dylan Niski.

On a night where they had been largely second best, Mt Druitt Town Rangers needed some luck. A cross from Soloman-John Monahan-Vaiika needed an intervention from Marques after a wicked deflection.

It was then end to end action as the much finally decided to come to life.

Djordjevic again blocked a certain NWS Spirit goal from a Luiz Lobo strike then Mt Druitt substitute Stefan Nikolic forced Marques into a save.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers had a late opportunity to snatch all three points. Substitute Anthony Frangie thundered a free-kick towards goal but Marques punched it away.

The visitors had their own free-kick at the death after Djordjevic was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge.

Luiz Lobo tried to curl it top corner but the ball agonizingly sailed over the bar and it was to be the final play of the night as referee Sam Kelly blew a halt to proceedings.

Speaking post-match, Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Stewart Montgomery remained upbeat about his side’s work with the changes made through the week following their round five 4-1 loss to Blacktown City.

“It was a fair result tonight.

“NWS Spirit had a stronger first half than us, but we kept our shape well.

“We owned our moments in defence and stayed patient.

“We had a few transition moments which if we were better, could’ve made something. The movement to a back four simplified the decision making and having Tarik Elrich there helps.

“We will take the point from our first match back at home and move on.” said Montgomery.

NWS Spirit FC coach David Perkovic was slightly frustrated with his side’s work in front of goal but drew many positives from a tough away match.

“In terms of our performance, it was our best game of the season.

“We managed the game well, kept the ball and created chances.

“Unfortunately, our finish wasn’t there but I am proud of the boys.

“The only chances they created were from scrappy work.

“I don’t feel that we have managed a game in its entirety until today. The Blacktown game was our second-best performance thus far.

“Goals win matches, and we haven’t done that yet but hopefully we can hurt our opponents (Manly United) next week.”

Match Stats

Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0

NWS Spirit 0

Friday 10 March 2023

Popondetta Park, Emerton

Referee: Sam Kelly

Assistant Referees: Alessandro Llana & Alexis Johnson

Fourth Official: Charbel Geha

Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 2. Solomon-John Monahan-Vaiika (6. Jared Macerola ‘70), 3. Nikola Djordjevic, 4. Cooper Coskerie, 7. Nikola Skataric, 9. James Demetriou (27. Stefan Nikolic ‘65), 10. Kotaro Katsuta, 11. Jackson Bandiera, 20. Dylan Niski, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva (44. Anthony Frangie ‘80), 23. Daniel Dias

Unused subs: 1. Robert Fanella, 5. Jacob Esposito, 15. Anthony Gallo

Yellow cards: Rhett Desilva, Bandiera, Coskerie, Dias

Red cards: Djordjevic

NWS Spirit: 1. Christopher Marques, 3. Musashi Kukubo, 4. Kota Odakura, 5. Jordan Gomez (10. Louis Bozanic ‘83), 6. Corey Kavanagh, 7. Richard Darko, 9. Mitchell Davidson (17. Matthew Cahill ‘57), 11. Ollie Wiggin (21. Luiz Lobo ‘57), 13. Simon Nicholas, 20. Jared Lum, 23. Michael Konestabo (19. Dominic Johns ‘80)

Unused subs: 2. Blake Ilitch, 12. Jacob Madden

Yellow cards: Kavanagh

Red cards: nil

Players Ratings:

3: Corey Kavanagh (NWS)

2: Michael Konestabo (NWS)

1: Tarek Elrich (MDTR)

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)