The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 Men’s side have shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with the Central Coast Mariners following a late Harper Ryles goal.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 side were originally set to face the Central Coast Mariners at Pluim Park on Friday evening, but due to severe weather conditions, the match was rescheduled to the following day as a reverse fixture.
The Wanderers welcomed back Richard Nkomo back into the starting side as they searched for back-to-back wins for the first time this season against a struggling Mariners side.
The Wanderers started the match on the front foot, with Alaat Abdul-Rahman having an early chance within the opening ten minutes. The Mariners appeared to have taken the lead shortly after, but Ayouk Mow’s effort sailed over the crossbar.
The opening goal followed shortly, as a Ryley Hollingdale cross was deflected into the back of the net by Mariners’ Ben Mewett.
The Red and Black created several chances in the five minutes following the goal, with Edmun Haddad, Abdul-Rahman, and Noah Peacock combining well in attack. Abdul-Rahman had the best opportunity, but a last-ditch tackle from Luca Pecora denied the Wanderers a second.
Jai Rose and Ayouk Mow would link up for the Mariners equaliser as the winger would find Rose at point blank range for the tap in.
The lead wouldn’t last long, as Nkomo delivered a deep cross into the box for Lachlan Tilt to poke home. Despite the equaliser, the Wanderers went into the break with the lead for a second consecutive week.
Haddad looked to add a third early in the second half, as he evaded three Mariners defenders to unleash a curling shot from outside the box, only for the shot to narrowly miss.
The Wanderers had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the 74th minute, with Awan Lual’s long-range strike brilliantly saved by Joel Wade. Abdul-Rahman then found himself in front of an open goal but couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet to finish the chance.
This would prove costly as the Mariners would find the equalizer through Harper Ryles in the 85th minute.
The draw lifts the Wanderers out of the relegation zone, and they’ll have the chance to create further separation next week when they face 15th-placed Mount Druitt Town Rangers.
