The Western Sydney Wanderers unbeaten run in the NPL 2 came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Mounties at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Marley Peterson opened the scoring for the Red & Black in the first half, before a double from Mounties forward Sean Rooney handed the Wanderers their first defeat in 11 games.
Both teams started cautiously and ten minutes passed before the Wanderers would threaten the Mounties goal.
Fabian Monge started a counter-attack with a run from inside his own half, finding Mohamed Adam in space on the left wing, but the cross was cleared.
At the other end, Mounties tried a few long range efforts, none of which troubled Wanderers goalkeeper Jack Greenwood.
On the half hour mark, the Red & Black took the lead. Lochlan Constable found Peterson in space on the edge of the area, and Peterson’s aim was unerring, sending a low shot into the bottom corner for his tenth goal of the season.
Peterson and Adam were then denied by Mounties goalkeeper Jack Groeneveld, before Mounties equalised in the closing stages of the first half after a close range finish from Rooney.
The Wanderers regained the momentum after the interval and Adam was unlucky not to score after getting behind the defence and smashing a shot off the crossbar.
In the 57th minute, Mounties then took the lead against the run of play after a header from Rooney.
Midway through the second half, Adam went close again, striking the crossbar from 30 yards out. Rory Jordan did well to keep the ball alive and find Peterson, who shot straight at Groeneveld.
With 15 minutes remaining, Andrea Agamemnonos got on the end of a neat short corner routine, testing Groeneveld from a tight angle.
The Red & Black kept pushing and Adam’s 25-yard free kick was saved with Noah Pagden’s follow-up shot cleared off the goal line.
That was the last chance for the Wanderers to equalise in the match and a couple minutes later Mounties won a penalty. However, there would be more scoring, as Greenwood dived low to his right to save from Theo Kofinas.
The defeat now leaves the Wanderers in third place on the NPL 2 table. Next Sunday, the Red & Black will travel to Northbridge Oval to play league leaders North Shore Mariners. Kick-off is at 4:00pm.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Marley Peterson 30’)
Mounties 2 (Sean Rooney 39’ 57’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: Jack Greenwood, Lochlan Constable, Mohamed Al Taay, Noah Pagden, Daniel Wilmering (Adrian Valenti 83’), Andrea Agamemnonos (c), Fabian Monge, Marley Peterson, Jarrod Carluccio (Jake Trew 56’), Jacob Vasiliou (Rory Jordan 64’), Mohamed Adam
Unused substitutes: Elliot Carwardine, Thomas McPherson
Other results:
U20: WSW 1-3 Mounties
U18: WSW 6-1 Mounties
U16: WSW 0-0 Hills United
U15: WSW 3-0 Hills United
U14: WSW 6-1 Hills United
U13: WSW 2-1 Hills United
