Our Wander Women make a special trip to Bathurst on Friday night as they host the Newcastle Jets in A-League Women action.
You can get your tickets to the fixture here.
It will be a fantastic occasion as football fans in the Central West will be able to see the Red and Black up close and personal, but also an important one for the girls as they look to end their run of two straight defeats.
They fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat on the road against Adelaide United last Saturday, with the side being overrun in the second half at a hot Coopers Stadium.
In a half devoid of too many opportunities, captain Amy Harrison put the Wanderers ahead at the break with a well taken penalty after Vicky Bruce was fouled in the box, and star attacker Sophie Harding had many chances to increase the lead in the second period.
But wayward finishing and good goalkeeping kept Western Sydney at bay, and they were punished for their failure to add to their tally as the Reds scored two counter-attacking goals to claim a surprise 2-1 victory that saw the Wanderers drop to seventh.
Coach Robbie Hooker will be frustrated his side weren’t able to convert their opportunities -which is of huge importance when only two points separate fourth and ninth on the table – but will take heart from the fact the side has a game in hand on all the teams around them, and would move back into the top four should they win that clash.
The recent dip in form means the margin for error has increased dramatically though, with more dropped points opening the door for other teams to either overtake the Wanderers or increase their lead in the points tally.
Their opponents for the weekend have had an inconsistent season, failing to win back-to-back games at all, but sit level on points with the Wanderers having played a game more.
They only won one of their first five games, which included a 4-0 defeat to Sydney FC, but are unbeaten in four of their last six games, which includes three victories.
A familiar face has proved to be an integral signing for the Novocastrians, with Philippines star Sarina Bolden joining as a mid-season arrival and has transformed their attacking fortunes, scoring eight goals and assisting three more in just 10 matches.
She played a similar role for the Wanderers last year – also joining mid season – where despite only scoring once, she helped transform the Wanderers attack and spark a strong second half of the season where the side pulled off many key victories.
She was also impressive in the recent World Cup, where she famously scored the winning goal in the Philippines’ first ever victory in World Cup history against co-hosts New Zealand.
Instead of Red and Black she is now in the gold of Newcastle, and the Wanderers will need to ground her and her fellow Jets stars if they are to return to winning ways.
In the reverse fixture in Newcastle, the Wanderers were moments from securing a crucial victory on the road after Vicky Bruce scored her first goal for the club with a fantastic header in the second half.
However a rare goal from Jets captain Cassidy Davis – who shocked the stadium with a volley from the edge of the box – stole victory from the Wanderers and forced them to share the points.
With a trip to face the Melbourne Victory before a mammoth Sydney Derby at the beginning of March, this clash in Bathurst is close to a must win for the Wanderers.
