The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 first grade team went down 3-1 to Mount Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.
It was a fast and entertaining start to the local derby which saw Lochlan Constable score the opening goal of the contest just seven minutes in.
A brilliant flick pass from Ali Auglah found the in-form Rory Jordan on the edge of the box. He managed to fire a shot away under high pressure, and thankfully for him he scuffed the shot straight into the path of Lochlan Constable who made no mistake converting into the bottom left corner.
The fast-paced nature of the game continued after the goal with both sides creating chances in an entertaining end-to-end match.
The Rangers had chances to Jack Stewart and former Wanderer John Roberts, and it was Stewart who earned Mount Druitt an equaliser in the 21st minute. Oliver Kalac managed to get a hand on the powerful strike but couldn’t prevent it from going into the bottom corner.
The Wanderers had more chances of their own towards the end of the first half as they were rewarded for enjoying some possession high up the pitch.
Following the half-time break, the Red & Black continued where they left off by controlling the play. Some fast passing and good movement off the ball worried the Rangers defence as chances fell to both Rory Jordan and Ali Auglah.
Despite the control, Mount Druitt managed to grab a go-ahead goal in the 69th minute through Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika.
The goal didn’t dampen the spirits of the Red & Black as they continued to control the ball without really threatening Mount Druitt.
Ultimately, though, it’s goals that decide matches and deep into stoppage time Jack Stewart bagged his second of the match on a deadly counterattack. Looking for an equaliser, the Wanderers had pushed all but two players into the box, and the pace of John Roberts was too much for Aquilina to contain. He recovered well, but Roberts cleverly passed the ball across goal to a wide-open Stewart who tapped home his second and the Rangers’ third of the night.
The Wanderers will be looking to build off the performance with a better result on Sunday against Rockdale.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Jack Stewart 21’, 90+4’, Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika 69’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Lochlan Constable 7’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Oliver KALAC (GK), 2. Thomas AQUILINA, 4. Mohamed AL TAAY (c), 5. Noah PAGDEN, 6. Fabian MONGE (9. Duantae MARINER 75’), 7. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 10. Kosta GROZOS, 11. Lochlan CONSTABLE, 13. Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 19. Rory JORDAN, 35. Ali AUGLAH (24. Peter GROZOS 68’)
Unused Substitutes: 1. Jack GIBSON (GK), 22. Paolo Bonanni, 23. Jamie PERCEVSKI, 26. Alessandro LOPANE
