The Western Sydney Wanderers continued their impressive start to the PS4 NPL2 season with a 5-2 thumping of Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.
Following Round 1’s 6-0 demolition of Spirit FC, Trevor Morgan’s side cemented their spot at the top of the ladder in style after overcoming a plucky Mt Druitt fight-back.
The Wanderers began the match on the front foot, controlling possession and threatening to break past Mt Druitt’s high defensive line.
Josh Macdonald was in the thick of the action early and it was the attacker’s piercing ball in behind that allowed Kyle Cimenti to open the scoring.
The Red & Black continued to play almost exclusively in their opposition’s half and the pressure would give way to another Cimenti goal just before the break.
The striker again found himself striding in behind the Mt Druitt back four before executing a delightful chip over the onrushing keeper to double his side’s advantage.
Mt Druitt immediately found a reply though, poking home inside the box to halve the deficit heading into the sheds.
Soon after the restart, disaster hit the Wanderers when Cameron Devlin was given his marching orders for a handball on the goal line and Mt Druitt duly converted the resulting penalty to bring the scores level.
The Wanderers continued to play positive football despite the numerical disadvantage and were rewarded with a golden opportunity to go ahead when Josh Macdonald was brought down just on the edge of the area.
Tariq Maia stepped up to take the free kick, curling a gorgeous effort around the wall and into the back of the net to send the Wanderers 3-2 up.
Mt Druitt would then soon also find themselves with 10 men after a nasty challenge on substitute Mario Shabow.
The Wanderers took full advantage with fellow substitutes Lachlan Scott and Alusine Fofanah both adding late goals to close out a resounding 5-2 victory.
The win keeps the Wanderers top of the PS4 NPL2 ladder ahead of next Saturday night’s Round 3 match against Northern Tigers at Popondetta Park.
