The Wanderers NPL 1 Men’s side were at their clinical best on Friday night when they defeated St George FC in a 3-0 triumph at Barton Park.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 side returned to the winner’s circle with a dominant 3-0 victory, delivering their most clinical performance of the season.
Noah Peacock, Nicholas Badolato, Jesse Cameron and Lachlan Tilt made their return to the starting side as the Red & Black looked to have found their flow very early on in the game as an attacking raid inside two minutes opened up an opportunity for Edmun Haddad.
The resulting free kick on the edge of the box set the tone for the next 20 minutes, with Haddad threading a superb through ball for Alaat Abdul-Rahman to finish. The 16th-minute goal gave the Red & Black their first lead since their Round 9 win over Manly United.
Two minutes later, a delightful Peacock pass would find Abdul-Rahman in behind as he would repay the favour and assist Haddad for the Wanderers second goal of the game.
The Wanderers pushed for a third but were caught offside as they began to exploit space behind a high St George back line. The half ended with a period of St George pressure, forcing a series of saves from Vidakovic as they searched for a way back into the match.
Jesse Cameron, impressive on his return from injury, was replaced at half-time by Richard Nkomo, who immediately made his presence felt. Nkomo delivered a series of dangerous crosses to Peacock early in the second half, but the young striker was unable to convert the chances.
The final twenty minutes of regulation time finished in similar fashion to the first, waves of St George attacking pressure that was repelled by the Wanderers defence.
The resistance paid off in added time as substitute Luka Knezevic had found open space to play Nkomo in behind as he tucked away the insurance goal the Red & Black were looking for.
This was a significant win for the Wanderers, showcasing that when they take their chances, they have the potential to trouble any opponent. The introduction of Cameron at right back and Simmons on the left added size and strength, improving both their defensive solidity and attacking fluency.
A tactical shift on the night paid dividends, with the Red and Black converting three of their four shots on target to secure the win. With this result, the climb off the bottom of the table begins for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
