Our NPL NSW side are involved in midweek action as they make the long trip to face the Central Coast Mariners Academy side on Wednesday night.
The Wanderers are coming off a dominant win in the Sydney Derby, where an attacking masterclass saw them score three unanswered goals in the second half to secure a 5-2 victory.
The senior players in the squad stood up as Zac Sapsford, Marcus Younis and Aydan Hammond all scored, whilst Ryley Hollingdale rounded out the goals with a wonderful free-kick.
The result means the Wanderers can move to first with either a draw or a win, with the teams above them having played a game more than the Red and Black.
It has been a brilliant start to the season for the Wanderers as they have won four of their opening five games, scoring a competition high 16 goals in the process.
Nathaneal Blair has six of those goals in just four games as he missed the Derby victory due to being with the A-League Men’s side, whilst Sapsford, Younis and Adam Bugarija have also been highly effective in front of goal.
They cannot take their good start for granted, as they face two tough away games in the space of four days.
The Mariners have had a tougher start to 2024, having only won one of their first five games.
They recorded a hard earned draw over Manly United on the weekend, but have failed to keep a clean sheet this season, and have the second worst defence in the competition.
Striker Luka Smyth has been in hot goalscoring form with six goals to begin the season, whilst the Mariners also have former Wanderers shot stopper Jack Warshawsky in between the sticks this season.
The Wanderers did record a strong victory in their last trip to Pluim Park, with a first half blitz seeing them record a 3-1 win, though they did fall to a tight defeat in the return fixture.
NPL NSW Round Six
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Wednesday 20th March 2023, 7pm
Pluim Park
