The Wanderers are out to add further credence to their admirable championship tilt in this weekend’s Round 20 match.
The Red & Black take on a struggling Bankstown Berries team on Saturday evening in the PS4 NPL Mens 2.
KICK-OFF: Bankstown Berries v Western Sydney Wanderers. 7pm Saturday at the Crest Athletics Centre
The 13th placed Berries have endured a disappointing 2016 season after a respectable mid-table finish last campaign. Their frustrations were surmised neatly in last weekend’s action where the Berries surrendered a 4-0 lead at Marconi to eventually draw 4-4, and Paris Svilicich’s outfit will no doubt still be smarting from their collapse in Bossley Park when they host the competition heavyweights at The Crest.
Bankstown have proven a hugely capable side going forward throughout the year with the prolific Nicholas Paras grabbing 12 goals in 18 games but have failed to keep a single clean sheet throughout the season, shipping a mammoth 47 goals.
Several freak results involving the Berries have occurred as a result of this style, including Round Six’s 5-3 loss to Marconi and a 7-4 defeat to Sydney FC a fortnight after.
After breaking out of a mini-slump last weekend with a 4-0 defeat of finals hopefuls Macarthur Rams, the Wanderers cannot afford to slip up with Sydney FC trailing Trevor Morgan’s side by a single point.
The team itself will be buoyed with this week’s announcement of seven Wanderers called-up to the Young Socceroos in what must be a record for a team competing in NPL2.
While Lachlan Roberts has since been pulled out of the national team, Keanu Baccus, Tariq Maia and Cameron Devlin will be looking hard to impress in their final match before heading into camp.
