Rangers undone by spirited Saints
St George FC secured a 2-0 victory over the Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday evening.
The visitors maintained consistent attacking pressure throughout the match with a goal from Jaden Casella opening the scoring in the 53rd minute.
Despite plenty of opportunities, the next goal didn’t come until the 84th minute, with Sunday Yona putting the nail in the coffin in the late stages of the game.
The result leaves Mt Druitt Town Rangers fighting to rise out of the relegation zone in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder, while St George gain valuable points in the fight for finals football.
St George started off the game on the attack, creating their first opportunity in just the third minute of the match through Justin Poon, who crossed to Evangelo Souris.
Souris let off a shot but Jared Macerola was able to block for Mt Druitt to keep the visitors at bay.
St George came looking for more minutes later through Aedan O’Shea but the effort skewed wide.
The visitors were again on the attack in the 9th minute as a run down the left flank saw them get a shot on target, but Mt Druitt custodian Dylan Niski was able to deny.
St George came agonisingly close in the 14th minute as Poon got on the end of a long ball and sent it into the area, but again Niski was in action to deny the shot from close range.
A throw-in at the 18-minute mark saw the visitors with another chance, but Poon was denied by Niski again.
An outstretched Niski managed another important save to keep the visitors goalless after a free kick in the 19th minute.
The hosts came close in the 26th minute as Garang Awac cut the ball to Joey Gibbs in front of the goal.
Gibbs tried to tap in but was held off by St George’s defence.
Caleb Jackson-Brown pounced on the rebounded ball for another chance but Mackenzie Syron was able to jump on the ball as the referee raised the flag for offside.
Poon broke forward in the 28th minute before trying his luck with a powerful strike, however his effort flew high and wide.
A free kick in the 49th minute gave the hosts an opportunity early in the second half, but they weren’t able to meet the target.
The attacking pressure finally paid off for St George in the 52nd minute, with the opening goal through Casella.
Casella received the ball from Bai Antoniou outside the area and confidently knocked a shot at the target.
Casella was in action again in the 63rd minute, cutting a ball back to Antoniou in front of goal.
Antoniou’s shot at close range but Niski was able to stop the shot.
A hungry St George maintained pressure and Poon sent another shot towards the goal, which was cleared off the line by Mt Druitt’s defence.
The visitors maintained their attacking energy with a shot from Casella cleared off the line by Jackson-Brown in the 65th minute.
An intercept from Antoniou gave yet another opportunity in the 70th minute, but Niski was able to palm off the shot from Casella.
Mt Druitt looked to capitalise on a free kick in the 75th minute but Pedrinho’s ball couldn’t find a teammate to head home.
Niski pulled out another impressive save in the 76th minute as Antoniou fired a strike at the target.
A fast-paced counter led to St George’s second goal of the night in the 84th minute.
Substitute Nikola Skataric played through to Casella who bolted forward before cutting across to Yona, who sent a strike straight into the netting to secure the victory for the visitors.
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 0
St George FC 2 (Casella 53’, Yona 84’)
Saturday June 7th, 2025
Popondetta Park, Emerton
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Blake Sanchez-Cruz and Rory McFarlane
Fourth Official: Mitchell Renton
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 2. Alexander Trajanoski, 5. Theph Theph, 6. Jared Macerola, 7. Garang Awac, 9. Joseph Gibbs, 10. Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos, 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 20. Thomas Lopez, 21. William Rankin (4. Zac Sfiligoi 86’), 27. Shayden Sampow
Substitutes Not Used: 11. John Azar, 16. Stefan Giglio, 18. Lachlan Vasiliou, 22. Jude Rankin, 24. Bailey Comino
Yellow Cards: Awac 45+3’, Gibbs 58’
Red Cards: Nil
St George FC: 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 7. Aedan O’Shea (13. Sunday Yona 59’), 8. Evangelo Souris, 10. Jaden Casella, 14. Justin Poon (19. Nikola Skataric 71’), 15. Bai Antoniou (12. Thomas Dunn 86’), 16. Kaidyn Wright, 27. Jayden Seeto, 34. Kota Toyooka, 99. Mackenzie Syron
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Daniel Axford, 23. Javier Rodriguez, 33. Dominic Ofria
Yellow Cards: Casella 78’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jaden Casella (STG)
2 – Justin Poon (STG)
1 – Bai Antoniou (STG)
