Rangers clinch first win of the season
Mt Druitt Town Rangers recorded their first three points of the 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season with a 3-1 win over a ten-man gutsy Bulls FC Academy at Sydney United Sports Centre on Monday night.
Bulls FC took the lead through a stunning Stephan De Robillard free-kick in the first half before they were reduced to ten men after Anthony Krillic’s red card. The hosts fought hard in the second half with chances to Mason Wells and Sebastian Hernandez but couldn’t find an equaliser.
Nikola Skataric found the back of the net twice alongside Rhett Desilva in a pulsating second half that gave the visitors the three precious points opening their account for the new year.
Bulls FC had the first opportunity of the game when Diego Bonilla found space on the right and unfurled a shot which was repelled by Mt Druitt Town Rangers custodian Dylan Niski.
Looking for the opener, Mt Druitt Town Rangers went close through Rhett Desilva, the attacker had a volley blocked away for a corner.
Off-season recruit for Mt Druitt, James Demetriou featured heavily in the action in the first half. His first chance came from a corner which he nodded over the bar.
Demetriou repeated that dose in the 18th minute when he latched onto a cross from Jared Macerola, but once again flashed it wide of the mark.
In such a tight affair, it took a moment of magic to open the scoring. Stephan De Robillard was fouled close to the box – the star stepped up and curled his free-kick into the top corner and it was 1-0 to Zeljko Kalac’s troops.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers had a pair of free-kicks themselves to restore parity just before the break. Both efforts flew wide of the mark from Demetriou and Anthony Frangie.
The visitors were given a boost before the break when Bulls FC were reduced to ten men. Anthony Krillic was shown a red card from referee Kelly Jones for a last man foul after a solid first half from the Bulls.
Bulls FC started the second half the brighter of the two teams despite being a man down.
The ever elusive Sunday Yona found a pocket of space before he thrashed an effort over.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers made a pair of changes at the break and they worked their magic. Substitute Kotaro Katsuta delivered a free-kick which Nikola Skataric swept home for the equaliser in the 50th minute.
The game then turned on its head once more and it was double delight for the visitors – Another wonderful delivery from the left saw it bundled home from Desilva giving Mt Druitt a 2-1 lead.
Not content to sit on their lead, Mt Druitt Town Rangers surged forward. Danial Dias and Jackson Bandiera had chances to make it a two-goal cushion.
Abdelelah Faisal was another player brought on as fresh legs for Mt Druitt and he too went close to adding a third but touched his effort wide of the mark.
Bulls FC continued to battle despite being reduced to ten. Substitute Mason Wells ran onto a cushioned ball from Yona but put the strike right at Niski.
The hosts went close to an equaliser again through Sebastian Hernandez. The substitute forced Niski into another good save after a fizzed in cross.
Bulls FC kept pushing forward and creating chances late in the contest. Joel Bertolissio tried to chest home from close range but it whistled wide of the post.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers were able to exhale when they made it 3-1 late from the spot. Faisal was fouled in the box, Skataric had his initial penalty saved by Nicholas Suman but rolled home the rebound.
Post match Bulls FC Academy coach Zeljko Kalac remained upbeat about his young side who will take some lessons from this game:
“It was another game we let slip. It was a very good performance from our boys even when we went down to ten men was good. We created chances and now we dust ourselves off for next week. It is hard to win with ten men but we had ten kids out there. I am proud of the boys and we need to learn to take our chances.”
While it was a relieved Mt Druitt Town Rangers dressing room as coach Stewart Montgomery enjoyed securing the club’s first three points of the season.
“We started well and controlled play but didn’t take our chances. They had one chance and found the back of the net which has been the story early on for us. In the second half, we changed shape and got more aggressive but did leave the backdoor open on occasions.
“Three points is good for us as we head into face a tough APIA side this weekend. We have a happy camp in the changing rooms and will look to build on this positive result.”
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 1 (De Robillard ‘35)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Skataric ‘50, 90+3, De Silva ‘55)
Monday 20 February 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Amber Morris & Alexis Johnson
Fourth Official: Joel Crawford
Bulls FC Academy: 1. Nicholas Suman, 2. Anthony Krilic, 3. Isaac Hovar, 4. Joel Bertolissio, 9. Diego Bonilla (12. Charlie Ragg ‘45), 11. Stephan De Robillard (18. Sebastian Hernandez ‘60), 14. Sunday Yona (21. Lachlan Macdonald ‘78), 16. Oliver Jones, 17. Rhys Youlley (8. Mason Wells ‘55), 22. Edward Caspers, 39. Theph Theph (20. Adrian Knez ‘55)
Unused subs: 40. Griffin Barry
Yellow cards: Theph
Red cards: Krillic
Mt Druitt Town Rangers: 3. Nikola Djordjevic, 4. Cooper Coskerie (5. Jacob Esposito ‘45), 6. Jared Macerola (15. Anthony Gallo ‘85), 7. Nikola Skataric (41. Ivan Sunjic ‘90+3), 8. Anthony Frangie (10. Kotaro Katsuta ‘45), 9. James Demetriou (43. Abdelelah Faisal ‘61), 11. Jackson Bandiera, 20. Dylan Niski, 21. Tarek Elrich, 22. Rhett Desilva, 23. Daniel Dias
Unused subs: 1. Robert Fanella
Yellow cards: Frangie, Djordjevic, Desilva, Macerola
Red cards:
Player Ratings:
3: Nikola Skataric (MDTR)
2: Joel Bertolissio (BA)
1: Dylan Niski (MDTR)
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
