The Western Sydney Wanderers have been unable to repeat Thursday’s heroics at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday, losing 5-0 to Mounties.
A hat trick from Mounties striker Tai Smith, as well as goals from Tomislav Mijic and Nathan Sansom, handed the Red & Black their heaviest loss of the NPL 2 season.
Mounties opened the scoring after winning a penalty in the seventh minute.
Despite Wanderers goalkeeper Mackenzie Syron diving the right way, Smith was still able to convert the spot kick.
Just before the half hour mark Mounties doubled their lead with Smith scoring again after he managed to slot the ball past Syron and a defender on the goal-line.
A few minutes later, Mounties made it 3-0 after Mijic scored with a header.
The Red & Black pushed to get back into the game and Mathieu Cordier played a dangerous ball into the box to Emmanuel Gonzalez who was inches away from getting a touch.
A neat passing move at the start of the second half set up a chance for Matthew Lecce but the Mounties defence were able to block the shot.
At the other end, Syron was called into action, making two sharp saves in the space of a minute.
Just before the hour mark Kyle Cimenti almost pulled a goal back when he beat the keeper to a corner kick, but his header flashed over the crossbar.
In the dying minutes of the match, Mounties’ Smith completed his hat trick with a shot from the edge of the box, before Nathan Sansom added another goal in second half stoppage time.
The Wanderers continued to push to get on the scoresheet with Tate Russell creating a good chance after getting behind Mounties defence but his shot was saved.
The result means that the Red & Black now drop to fourth on the NPL 2 ladder with one round remaining before the finals. This Sunday, the Wanderers travel to Northbridge Oval to play North Shore Mariners. Kickoff is at 3pm.
Mounties 5 (Tai Smith 7’ 27’ 86’ Tomislav Mijic 33’ Nathan Sansom 91’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Western Sydney Wanderers: Mackenzie Syron, Thomas Aquilina, Jordan Hall, Noah Pagden, Mathieu Cordier, Charles Abou Serhal (Joshua Bartolotto 46’), Tariq Maia, Matthew Lecce (Kosta Grozos 56’), Oliver Puflett, Emmanuel Gonzalez, Kyle Cimenti (Tate Russell 82’)
Unused substitutes: Daniel Axford, Lochlan Constable
Other results:
U20s: Mounties 0-3 WSW
U18s: Mounties 0-6 WSW
U16s: Hills 1-1 WSW
U15s: Hills 2-5 WSW
U14s: Hills 0-6 WSW
U13s: Hills 0-6 WSW
