The Wanderers NPL NSW side fell to a highly frustrating 1-0 defeat to Bulls Academy on Sunday at Wanderers Football Park.
Despite creating far more chances than their opponents, especially in the second half, a Rhys Youlley free-kick 10 minutes from time saw the visitors emerge with a narrow victory.
The Wanderers were thwarted on many occasions by Bulls shot stopper Alexander Robinson, whilst Ariath Piol had a goal disallowed for offside.
The side could have had two goals within the first three minutes; Jarrod Carluccio had a shot on goal less than a minute in that required the intervention of a defender and the keeper, before Alessandro Lopane had a shot from close range well saved by Robinson.
The game settled slightly after this, and the away side had a chance from a free-kick that required a strong diving save from Lawrence Caruso.
The Wanderers then had two chances in a minute just as Carluccio and then Zac Sapsford had attempts on goal that were once again stopped by Robinson.
Edmond Lupancu had the side’s best chance of the half in the 43rd minute when his header from a corner forced Robinson to make a great reaching save.
The Wanderers onslaught continued after the break; Carluccio and George Antonis were denied in quick succession, before Lopane had a curling effort that just went wide of the mark.
When Piol had his goal chalked off in the 75th minute, it looked like a matter of time before the Wanderers would find the crucial goal, but they were then hit by a sucker punch from the away side.
After a foul on the edge of the box, Youlley stepped up and curled a classy free-kick into the top corner out of the reach of a diving Caruso.
The Wanderers had more chances to level the score, as substitute Alex Badolato had his attempt saved by a sprawling Robinson, before Piol agonisingly hit the post in the last minute of the game.
