Late Wolves show stuns Rangers

Wollongong Wolves came from behind to down Mount Druitt Town Rangers 2-1 on Sunday evening at Ian McLennan Park. 

John Azar gave the visitors a halftime lead, but Wollongong surged back in the second half courtesy of goals to Lachlan Scott and Marcus Beattie.

The Wolves made an industrious start to the game with Scott, Nicholas Olsen and Raphael Le’ai looking lively in attack.

The Wolves struck the woodwork in the 18th minute. Dylan Ryan glancing a pinpoint left-sided Olsen corner onto the right post.

Five minutes later, Le’ai took on a shot from the right edge of the box, forcing Niski into a sharp save down low to his left.

Mount Druitt soon took hold of the game as they made inroads down the right wing, particularly through Garang Awac.

The visitors’ good play down the right paid off just before the half-hour mark. Awac clipped a superb cross towards an open Azar at the far post, who steered a well-timed finish into the bottom right corner.

Mount Druitt’s compact structure caused the Wolves problems as they struggled to break down the away side.

The Rangers’ diligent defending secured them a slender halftime advantage.

Wollongong made a purposeful start to the second period, winning a series of free-kicks in promising positions.

However, the side were still finding difficulties getting into shooting positions with Mount Druitt remaining resilient.

In the 52nd minute, Ryan reacted fastest to a deflected set piece, volleying goalwards, but it was straight at Niski.

Seven minutes later, Olsen sent a volley from inside the box bouncing past the right post.

The Wolves carried on their pursuit of an equaliser and were handed a lifeline in the 69th minute when Scott won a penalty.The captain took responsibility and steered the ball into the bottom left corner, as Niski dived the other way.

Scott’s physical presence was proving challenging for the Rangers to defend, and the forward consistently won possession to get Wollongong up the field.

Scott’s positive play proved pivotal again in the 80th minute as Wollongong hit the front. Scott managed to flick on Ryan’s lobbed ball forwards into Beattie’s path on the left. The winger shifted the ball inside before driving an effort inside the near post.

The Wolves could have had a third goal three minutes later. Raphael Le’ai raced in on goal one-on-one with Niski, but the goalkeeper pulled off another superb stop before batting away Scott’s follow-up.

Wollongong held off Mount Druitt’s attempts for an equaliser to pick up another three points at home.

Wolves fullback Ben Giason said that despite the team being behind at the break, they remained confident of getting back into the match.

“During the week, we worked a lot on our shape and formation defensively. We got to halftime, and we were doing everything right,” Giason said.

“We were unlucky to be behind, but we were playing well.

“We just had to capitalise on a couple of our chances, keep our defensive shape, and it all paid off in the end.

Giason also said that the team is focusing on simplifying their game to get back to the form that earned them an unbeaten run to start the campaign.

“It’s just about going back to basics. Sometimes we try to do a little too much here and there and we confuse ourselves,” he said.

“We started off the season really well and fell away a bit so it’s about getting back to those fundamentals, keeping our structure and our shape.”

Match Stats

Wollongong Wolves FC 2 (Lachlan Scott 69’ penalty, Marcus Beattie 80’)

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC 1 (John Azar 28’)

Sunday 27 April 2025

Ian McLennan Park, Kembla Grange

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: James Makris and Blake Sanchez-Cruz

Fourth Official: Reece Edwards

Wollongong Wolves FC: 1. Oliver Yates, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. James Anagnostopoulos (10. Liam Ball 76’), 7. Woon Sub Sim, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen, 24. Lachlan Scott (25. Alex Masciovecchio 90+4’), 29. Ben Giason, 77. Raphael Le’ai

Substitutes Not Used: 13. Daniel Solsky, 9. Damon Gray, 11. Lucas Trajcevski, 15. Dax Kelly

Yellow Cards: Woon Sub Sim 12’, Nicholas Olsen 90+1’

Red Cards: Nil

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 2. Alexander Trajanoski (27. Shayden Sampow 87’), 5. Theph Theph, 6. Jared Macerola, 7. Garang Awac (22. Jude Rankin 64’), 9. Joey Gibbs, 10. Pedrinho (20. Thomas Lopez 77’), 11. John Azar (18. Lachlan Vasiliou 87’), 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 21. William Rankin, 99. Rocco Fragale

Substitutes Not Used: 16. Stefan Giglio, 41. Samuel Graham

Yellow Cards: Pedrinho 46’, William Rankin 59’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings: 

3 – Lachlan Scott (WW)

2 – Dylan Niski (MDTR)

1 – Dylan Ryan (WW)

Report by Tim Gibson