Mt Druitt Town Rangers finally celebrate first home win of 2025
It was a massive three points gained for hosts Mt Druitt Town Rangers who defeated Manly United 1-0 at Popondetta Park on Saturday to push them away from the dreaded relegation zone.
The Rangers started the better of the two and had a couple of half chances and all of which failed to trouble Manly United keeper Levi Kaye.
Manly United, who during the week saw the departure of head coach Patrick Zwaanswijk, soon countered and had their first opportunity with Darcy Brugess sending his effort over the bar early in the first half.
Next, Rangers’ Lachlan Vasiliou wriggled into space and curved an effort which fizzed wide of Kaye’s right post.
Following a series of missed efforts the game saw its first goal and it was the Rangers who rocked Popondetta Park in the 24th minute.
Vasiliou who looked dangerous early on, controlled the ball well and smashed his shot into the bottom corner much to the delight of the home fans.
Knowing one goal would not be enough, the Rangers pushed for a second as Garang Awac curled his shot which rattled the apex of the bar then was swept away.
The visitors though finished the half with a flurry. They whistled in a few balls across the area which evaded a touch and their equalising goal went begging as the whistle sounded for the break.
As the second half commenced, Vasiliou tried his luck as he cut inside his defender and unfurled a strike which flashed wide.
Manly United FC were finding their rhythm again. They worked the ball around the box then Matthew O’Donoghue smashed his shot which fell wide of the mark.
The Rangers almost doubled their advantage from a set piece. Shayden Sampow’s free-kick bounced around the area before Thomas Lopez headed straight at the keeper.
Substitute John Azar floated in a set piece for the Rangers which found Zac Sfiligoi whose deflected effort was turned away by Kaye.
Heading into the final ten minutes Manly United FC rung the changes bringing on Taiga Kawano, Farah Koko and Benjamin Koop to chase the result.
Manly United FC had a series of corners which they swung in but Mt Druitt Town Rangers keeper Dylan Niski was up to the task.
The visitors had another set piece to hit an equaliser but Jesse Piriz’s thumping shot fell straight to Niski.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers then held on for six minutes of stoppage time and earned their first home win of the season, a valuable one as the club started its push to avoid relegation after winning promotion this year.
“It’s been a long time coming for us, people thought I was hoodwinking people saying it was coming but it did today,” said Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Andrew Montgomery.
“Things went our way this week which hasn’t before and might be the catalyst to turn it around. Credit to Manly, they threw the kitchen sink at us but we held firm including the young boys who played up but we expected that.”
While for Manly United FC interim coach James Snedden, the new man in charge temporarily reflected on a positive performance despite the result.
“I thought it was one of our best footballing performances of the season.
“We had all the ball in the attacking third but couldn’t score.
“I didn’t think they had many chances outside of a few set pieces but we weren’t good enough to break them down.”
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 1 (Vasiliou 24′)
Manly United FC 0
Saturday 21 June 2025
Popondetta Park
Referee: Hayden Langholz
Assistant Referees: Joshua Eiser & Isaac Riggs
Fourth Official: Lucy Hungerford
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 4. Zac Sfiligoi, 5. Theph Theph, 6. Jared Macerola, 7. Garang Awac (19. Jackson Goggins-Barrett ‘90+1), 9. Joseph Gibbs, 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 18. Lachlan Vasiliou (11. John Azar ’69), 20. Thomas Lopez (32. Jordi Fulete ’69), 21. William Rankin (2. Alexander Trajanoski ’26), 27. Shayden Sampow
Unused subs:16. Stefan Giglio, 38. Abdullah Alayed
Yellow cards: Awac ’43
Red cards: nil
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue, 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Bilal Belkadi, 8. Stefano Rossello (9. Benjamin Koop ’74), 10. Harry McCarthy (13. Taiga Kawano ’74), 11. Lucas Meek (17. Farah Koko ’74), 19. Alen Aganovic, 23. Darcy Burgess, 28. Jasper Chipman (7. Peter Kekeris ’62)
Unused subs: 12. Rocco Pelle, 21. Anthony Carreras
Yellow cards: McCarthy ’42 O’Donoghue ’71 O’Driscoll ‘75
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Caleb Jackson-Brown (MDTR)
2: Darcy Burgess (MU)
1: Theph Theph (MDTR)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
