The young Wanderers fought hard in their final NPL NSW match of the season, but ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat against Marconi Stallions.
The Wanderers overcame the early concession of a goal to create a load of chances and levelled the game, but two late goals from the Stallions meant they ended the 2024 season on a losing note.
The game got off to a difficult start when Domenic Costanzo scored a wonder strike after just four minutes, but the Wanderers picked themselves up quickly and began to assert themselves on the contest.
Dallo Sandy and Ryley Hollingdale had good chances, before Mason Fernandez headed a Hollingdale cross over the bar.
They had their equaliser moments later when Sandy’s shot cannoned off the crossbar but fell to Meliwethu Nkomo, who weaved his way into the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
In the second half, Sandy had another effort on the turn go just wide of the upright, before centre back Evangelos Kalamvokis almost scored a screamer from 30 yards.
The miss, coming in the 74th minute, would come back to hurt the Wanderers, as the Stallions retook the lead just two minutes later.
A free-kick from wide was fired into the Wanderers box, and after a wild scramble for the ball, it was eventually turned in right on the line by Milislav Popovic.
The Wanderers made changes, and Nicolas Badolato almost marked his entrance to the game with a goal, but his volley was saved by James Hilton.
Marconi sealed the win with a 90th minute goal from Dylan Susovic.
It was a disappointing way to end the season, with the boys arguably deserving more from the final match with their efforts, but they finished 11th on the table, comfortably clear of the other A-League academy sides and the relegation battle, a strong achievement given the upheaval the side has had to deal with in the second half of the season.
