The Wanderers Westfield W-League side will be looking to create more history when they play Sydney FC in the second Sydney Derby of the season at Cromer Park on Saturday.
Having handed Sydney a football lesson in a 5-0 win back on 20 December at Bankwest Stadium, the Wanderers will be out to make it two wins in a season against their arch-rivals for the first time in the club’s history.
Since entering the competition in 2012, Western Sydney have always found it tough going against their cross-city rivals.
The two sides have met 15 times with Sydney having won 12 times with just one draw while the Wanderers have managed just two wins.
That is why the Round 6 result this season was of such huge significance for the Wanderers – not only was it their first against Sydney since 2014 but it also made people sit up and take notice and announced them as a major force in the competition.
With rising talent Kyra Cooney-Cross and American star Lynn Williams in brilliant goalscoring form with a brace each, the Red & Black were an irresistible force in what was easily the club’s best ever performance.
In what has been a stellar season for the Red & Black, Dean Heffernan’s record breaking side have either already created, or are on the way to creating, a host of firsts for the club, including:
- Most wins (6)
- Most goals scored (21)
- Least goals conceded (11)
- Best start to a season (unbeaten in first six games)
With three games to go until the end of the regular season, the Wanderers are in a great position to add a couple of more honours, including a first-past-the-post title and a first time appearance in the W-League Finals.
While they have a tough finish to the season, a semi-final spot appears all but assured for the Wanderers, who are in second spot and five points clear of fifth-placed Brisbane Roar.
The chase for top spot could go down to the wire, though destiny is out of their hands as they need to win all three remaining games and hope competition leaders Melbourne City lose two of their last three.
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Still all of that is just a sideshow at the moment with the team focus understandably solely on the Sydney Derby.
It will be a little over three weeks between games for the Wanderers, who will go into the game fresh in mind and body, but minus key players Abby Smith and Erica Halloway (injured), and Denise O’Sullivan (end of guest player stint).
Still, Heffernan and his assistant coaches Michael Beauchamp and Catherine Cannuli remain steadfast in their belief they have enough depth.
Sydney are likely to be without their Matildas stars Caitlin Foord, Alana Kennedy and Chloe Logarzo, who will be involved in the final Olympic Games qualifier against China at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night.
