The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 2 team have played out in a hard-fought draw on Saturday evening, sharing the points with Central Coast Mariners after a 1-1 draw at Sydney United Sports Centre.
The Red & Black remain in third place on the ladder after Mohamed Adam’s 14th goal of the season canceled out an early strike from Mariners winger Michael Katsoulis.
The Wanderers started well and a long-range effort from Adam was fumbled by Mariners goalkeeper Aidan Munford with Jarrod Carluccio’s follow up effort also saved.
At the other end, Wanderers goalkeeper Elliot Carwardine made an excellent one on one stop. Unfortunately, Carwardine would be stranded a couple of minutes later after a shot from Katsoulis took a massive deflection and looped over him into the net.
The Red & Black didn’t let their heads drop after the goal and equalised in the 13th minute. Marley Peterson was the architect, playing a pass behind the defence for Adam who poked the ball under Munford to make it 1-1.
The Wanderers had the momentum and there were chances for Jake Trew and Carluccio.
Then with ten minutes until halftime, Carluccio found Rory Jordan in space on the edge of the area, but his shot was deflected wide.
Adam had another opportunity just before the interval after skipping past a defender, however, Munford was able to make the save.
The Red & Black kept the pressure on in the second half. Carluccio got on the end of Lochlan Constable’s cross, forcing Munford to tip his header over.
Then just before the hour mark, Adam was inches away from giving the Wanderers the lead, smashing the ball off the underside of the crossbar after being released by Mohamed Al Taay’s long pass.
Peterson and Jordan had the Red & Black’s best opportunities after that before the Mariners got back into the game in the closing stages. Carwardine had to be alert to save from Alec Vinci, while a few minutes later Vinci went even closer after his header rebounded off the post. That was the last chance for either side, and the teams had to settle for a point.
Despite being unable to get the win in the 1st grade, it was another weekend where the Wanderers Academy went undefeated in all seven grades.
The Wanderers next match is on Saturday night when they make the short trip to Blacktown Football Park to take on Blacktown Spartans. Kick-off is at 7:00pm.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Mohamed Adam 13’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Michael Katsoulis 8’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: Elliot Carwardine, Lochlan Constable (Bailey Rule 90’), Mohamed Al Taay, Noah Pagden, Adrian Valenti, Rory Jordan, Andrea Agamemnonos (c), Marley Peterson, Mohamed Adam, Jarrod Carluccio (Peter Grozos 74’), Jake Trew (Jacob Vasiliou 46’)
Unused substitutes: Oliver Kalac, Thomas McPherson
Other results:
U20: WSW 0-0 CCM
U18: WSW 3-1 CCM
U16: WSW 1-0 Rockdale
U15: WSW 3-1 Rockdale
U14: WSW 3-0 Rockdale
U13: WSW 3-0 Rockdale
