A depleted Wanderers side succumbed to a narrow 2-1 defeat in the FNSW League One Minor Semi Final against St George City FA.
On a sunny afternoon at Penshurst Park, a Nathan Roberts goal 11 minutes after half-time would prove decisive after the sides traded goals shortly before the break.
With eight players away on first-team pre-season camp and an injury to captain Dean Pelekanos, it was a very different side that took the field to what has been seen for much of the season.
But the side more than held their own for much of the first half, controlling possession and limiting the amount of clear-cut chances afforded to the home side.
Connor Rose almost caught the defence unaware when he charged down an attempted clearance from keeper Mackenzie Syron, but St George recovered and quelled the danger.
The hosts took the lead in the 35th minute, when a looping header from a corner found its way into the box, and in the resulting scramble Damian German got the final touch that put the ball past Jack Gibson.
The Wanderers responded five minutes later with a goal from a corner of their own; Liam Bonetig met a George Antonis cross, and whilst his header missed the target, it deflected off of Alex Denmead and left Syron stranded.
Coming out of the half both sides had chances to take the lead, with Jakov Malbasa having an attempt smothered by Syron, whilst Nathan Roberts hit the bar from a free-kick.
Roberts would make no mistake in the 56th minute, though, when he latched onto a long ball from captain Tarik Ercan and finished coolly past Gibson.
Substitute Thomas Lopez almost had an immediate impact when his ground cross found Miguel Di Pizio in the middle of the box, but Syron pulled off a good save to deny the midfielder.
Despite their best efforts, the Wanderers were unable to conjure up another equaliser, meaning they will now face Northern Tigers in the Minor Semi Final.
