The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL Women’s side have finished their season on a positive note, storming home with a 3-1 win over the Newcastle Jets at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility following a strong second half showing from the Red & Black.
The Wanderers who were staring down the barrel of finishing the season winless since round thirteen, their last victory coming against the Jets, trouncing the side 5-0 in a dominant display at Wanderers Football Park, were determined to finish the season strong.
The first half was a tight contest, with neither side willing to give an inch. Both teams managed to find promising positions in the final third, but defences stood tall and goalkeepers remained untested. Chances came and went, but the deadlock remained at the break.
The second stanza, however, told a completely different story. The Wanderers emerged with a renewed intensity and seized their first real opportunity. A well-constructed move down the flank ended with Nikkita Fazzari delivering a pinpoint cross into the danger area, where Alyssa McKenzie arrived at the back post to hammer home the opener.
The finish shifted momentum firmly in favour of the Red and Black and it wasn’t long before their lead was doubled. This time Fazzari found herself on the scoresheet, cleverly timing her run to the near post and steering home a smart cross from Lauren Nada.
The Wanderers continued to pile on pressure and almost added a third when McKenzie unleashed a fierce drive across goal and even though Ally Boertje blocked the strike, the danger wasn’t cleared. The rebound fell to Ava D’Costa, who would slot in the Wanderers’ third.
The Jets were rewarded with a late consolation, Alex Collins stepped up from the spot and converted her penalty, denying the Wanderers a clean sheet in stoppage time.
The win saw an improved Wanderers capitalise on their opportunities, and storm home to a well deserved win to break a winless run that stretched for almost three months. They may finish the season second to bottom, but this game has shown that there is plenty to look forward to in Rooty Hill.
