Rangers secure point in battle against relegation
The fight to stay in the NPL Men’s NSW competition for another season continues for the Mt Druitt Town Rangers who managed to secure a valuable point under new manager Ben Rollison in a scoreless 0-0 draw against Sydney FC at Popondetta Park on Saturday.
The Sky Blues had the first effort of a tense opening. Oscar Gultekin stood over a free-kick and curled it past everyone wide in the 7th minute.
It was Gultekin who tried to get Sydney FC moving forward. He drove into space and scuffed an effort past the left post.
The Rangers started to find their rhythm and released Yuta Komura well. His first touch took him towards goal but it rolled close enough to Sydney FC keeper Gus Hoefsloot.
Next, it was Joe Lacey who aimed to spark the visitors. The ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he volleyed his shot right at Rangers custodian Dylan Niski.
The Rangers finished the half on top. Komura was central to their work. He collected the ball and fired an effort right at Hoefsloot.
The hosts were full of energy now and took the game by the scruff of the neck. From a corner, the ball fell to Rocco Pelle who had his effort deflect wide in the 40th minute.
Komura continued to be the fulcrum for the Rangers. He was threaded through by Abraham Majok and forced Hoefsloot into a strong save to keep it 0-0 at the break.
Sydney FC made a pair of changes at the break. Substitute Junior Conde surged forward but his shot was tame and right at Niski.
The Rangers had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock and should have gone one-up. Yuto Morita and Thomas Lopez combined for Lopez to fizz wide in the 62nd minute.
They followed up with another chance in the same minute. This time, it was Komura who fired right at Hoefsloot as the hosts smelt blood in the air but were unable to capitalise.
It was all Rangers in the second half. The ball fell to Stephen Stanic-Floody who whistled his shot past the post.
The Sky Blues were limited in their work. Substitute Joseph Calusic won the ball and found Gultekin who sprayed his shot wide.
Mathias Mcallister, fresh from signing a first team contract, almost had his moment to cap a big week. He turned well and swerved his shot which hit a defender and floated out for a corner.
There was a final twist in the tale in stoppage time. Mcallister got the ball inside the box and thrashed it over much to the disappointment of the Sky Blues bench who were ready to celebrate.
The Rangers had a free-kick deep in stoppage time. It was floated into the box and fell to Komura whose effort was blocked.
The final whistle blew and both teams settled for a point in a scrappy game between two hungry sides with the Rangers locked at the bottom on 14 points.
Post match, new Mt Druitt Town Rangers coach Ben Rollison reflected on his first game in charge.
“I think we had the better of the chances but happy to walk away with a point and learnt more about the side.
“The performance was good plus the lads put in so might be unlucky not to get three points.” said Rollison.
While for Sydney FC coach Jimmy Van Weeren, he reflected on a scrappy contest which got his side a point.
“It was a scrappy game and the surface didn’t help our game.
“We started well in the first 30 then they dominated chances despite not having the ball.
“Neither team took their chances and I think it is a fair result.” said Van Weeren.
Match Stats
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 0
Sydney FC 0
Saturday 12 July 2025
Popondetta Park
Referee: Mujtaba Ebrahimi
Assistant Referees: Hayden Kaye & Blake Eastwood
Fourth Official: Joel Crawford
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 3. Danilo Doce Monteiro, 5. Theph Theph, 10. Yuto Morita (18. Lachlan Vasiliou ’85), 12. Rocco Pelle (2. Alexander Trajanoski ’81), 14. Abraham Majok (27. Shayden Sampow ’70), 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 17. Stephen Stanic-Floody (7. Garang Awac ’70), 20. Thomas Lopez (11. John Azar ’81), 21. William Rankin, 29. Yuta Komura
Unused subs: 16. Stefan Giglio
Yellow cards: Majok ’52 Komura ’54 Stanic-Floody ‘67
Red cards: nil
Sydney FC: 3. Kyle Shaw, 9. Mathias Macallister, 10. Taye Headley (44. Akol Akon ’65), 14. Jared Middleton, 15. Samuel Lancaster (23. Junior Conde ’46), 17. Jacob Mclachlan (4. Joseph Calusic ’46), 20. Oscar Gultekin, 29. Joe Lacey, 30. Gus Hoefsloot, 39. Dylan Rose (22. Zac Fowler ’80), 47. Caelan Marshall-White (8. Reef Farias ’80)
Unused subs: 12. Alexander Zaverdinos
Yellow cards: Mclachlan ’39 Lacey ‘56
Red cards: nil
Player Ratings:
3: Caleb Jackson-Brown (MDTR)
2: Gus Hoefsloot (SFC)
1: Rocco Pelle (MDTR)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
