The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL side are on the road once again, this time facing off against fellow promoted side NWS Spirit FC on Saturday evening.
They will be looking to bounce back from a narrow 2-1 defeat to Mt Druitt Town Rangers. A Wanderers side that was depleted by illness and suspension fought hard but were undone by two first half goals that cancelled out a classy Marcus Younis volley.
Whilst they will still be without the suspended Zac Sapsford and Ariath Piol they will hope to have a stronger side as they prepare for a crucial match against a side just two points ahead of them on the table.
Spirit are on a tough run of form; they have only won one of their last five matches, and were on the wrong end of a 5-0 shellacking last round away to APIA Leichhardt FC. In that time they have only scored two goals and have conceded 10.
They have had some significant victories though, most notably their come from behind victory against Wollongong Wolves back in April.
Finding themselves 4-2 behind after 88 minutes, they scored three goals – including two deep into stoppage time to secure an amazing victory, with the last goal being a Richard Darko shot from halfway.
Darko and Matthew Cahill are the top scorers for Spirit this season, with four goals each.
The sides met twice last season in the FNSW League One competition. The Wanderers won the first fixture – which also was the opening game of the season – with a comfortable 3-0 win at home, before the sides were forced to split the points in the return fixture at Christie Park, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
With both sides looking to escape the log jam at the bottom end of the table, anything less than three points will be seen as a disappointment in what is sure to be a tense and tight affair.
NPL NSW Round 15
NWS Spirit FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Saturday 13 May 2023, 5:30pm
Christie Park
