Rockdale Ilinden FC continued their strong start to the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season with a commanding 3-0 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Friday night keeping them atop of the Premiership ladder after eight rounds.
It was a disappointing evening for the Rangers.
The hosts have been somewhat of a bogey side for Rockdale Ilinden but were blown away by the visitors play, pace and style.
It was more of the same from the visitors who settled the contest within the hour.
Lochlan Constable opened the scoring with a stunner before who else but Alec Urosevski found the back of the net alongside a Brendan Cholakian strike in the second half.
Coming off a huge win last weekend against the Western Sydney Wanderers, Rockdale Ilinden wasted no time in settling in as they had the game’s first chance in the first sixty second through an in-form Cholakian who thrashed his effort wide.
Rockdale however didn’t have to wait long after that first chance to have the ball in the back of the net.
Constable majestically smashed his shot into the back of the net from a neat Cholakian pass to make it 1-0 for the visitors.
It was double delight for Rockdale Ilinden after nine minutes. Cholakian started the move again as he linked up with Jaden Casella who put the ball on a platter for goal machine Alec Urosevski for 2-0 and his eleventh of the NPL NSW Men’s season.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers had their first foray in the attacking half from a set piece. Nikola Skataric tried his luck from range but put the free-kick sailed over.
The hosts then followed up with another chance falling to Anthony Frangie soon after, but his final effort went wide of the mark.
Both sides traded chances in the later stages of the first half but it was Rockdale Ilinden who took the ascendency with a good lead into the break.
The visitors once again started quickly in the second half and wasted no time in adding to their tally for the evening.
Constable threaded a pass through for Cholakian who composed himself well and fired home to give Paul Dee’s men a good lead.
Rockdale maintained their three goal advantage thanks to keeper David Bradasevic. He plunged to his left to deny Kotaru Katsuta from close range.
Urosevski once again dazzled the defence and was on the hunt for more to add to his Golden Boot tally. A wonderful ball from Constable found the striker in space and he hit the crossbar and was denied a second.
Rockdale had the ball on a string in the second half.
Another well worked combination sent Urosevski free in the area but the league’s most lethal marksman swept his effort over the bar from the cutback.
Substitute Peter Kekeris almost had a highlight goal for Rockdale Ilinden as he did when he came on last weekend. The nippy attacker cut inside and his shot looked destined for the top corner before Mt Druitt custodian Dylan Niski punched it over the bar.
The NPL NSW Men’s competition leaders continued to push forward for a fourth goal. Niski produced a fantastic double save to deny Rockdale again.
There was a running battle between Niski and Urosevski in the second half. The shotstopper once again denied the ‘Baker’ and kept it at 3-0.
The full time whistle sounded as Ilinden continued its brilliant run of form cementing themselves top of the ladder but it was a tough night in the office for the Rangers.
Post match Rockdale Ilinden FC coach Paul Dee was delighted with the victory taking home the three points at a tough place after a short-turnaround despite not being at their very best.
“It was a short turnaround, a tough trip on a Friday night and to get three points from Popondetta Park, you should always be pleased with that.
“It wasn’t our best performance but we were solid defensively and went well forward. We scored some goals and I think we could’ve had a few more.” said Dee.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Stewart Montgomery was honest in his assessment of the contest against the high-flying Rockdale Ilinden.
“A slow start which saw us concede a few goals really hurt us tonight.
“We controlled possession from then until the back end of the first half.
“We lacked some finishing product and then at 3-0, the game was over.
“We didn’t show the best version of ourselves tonight.
“It shows that you can win one week then need to mentally focus the next, otherwise you will get done against a clinical Rockdale side.” said Montgomery.
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0
Rockdale Ilinden 3 (Constable ‘5, Urosevski ‘9, Cholakian ‘51)
Friday 24 March 2023
Popondetta Park
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Matt Staples & Thomas Bury
Fourth Official: Matthew Harris
Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 2. Solomon John Monahan-Vaiika (15. Anthony Gallo ‘79), 4. Cooper Coskerie, 5. Jacob Esposito, 7. Nikola Skataric (43. Abdelelah Faisal ‘73), 10. Kotaro Katsuta, 11. Jackson Bandiera, 20. Dylan Niski, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva (27. Stefan Nikolic ‘57), 23. Daniel Dias (6. Jared Macerola ‘79), 44. Anthony Frangie (9. James Demetriou ‘73)
Unused subs: 1. Robert Fanella
Yellow cards: Elrich, Esposito
Red cards:
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. David Bradasevic, 3. Lachlan Griffiths, 4. Nikola Ujdur, 7. Alec Urosevski, 8. Isaac Danzo, 10. Brendan Cholakian (16. Mohamed Ahmed ‘77), 11. Lochlan Constable (6. Nicola Kuleski ‘77), 14. Brayden Sorge, 17. Loic Puyo (5. William Mutch ‘65), 23. Jaden Casella (77. Peter Kekeris ‘65), 66. Matthiew Cordier (15. Jamie Percevski ‘77)
Unused subs: 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow cards: Ujdur
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Brendan Cholakian (RI)
2 – Lochlan Constable (RI)
1 – Isaac Danzo (RI)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
