The Wanderers have produced their finest performance in the Westfield W-League and confirmed their status as a serious championship contender after trouncing Sydney FC 5-0 in the Sydney Derby at Bankwest Stadium today.
Led by American star Lynn Williams, the Red & Black maintained their unbeaten record this season as they recorded just their second win in 13 games against their bitter rivals. Their only win against Sydney was back on October 26, 2014.
Williams scored a second half double, Kyra Cooney-Cross also contributed with a double while Amy Harrison got on the scoresheet against her old club in the Wanderers biggest ever W-League win.
The Wanderers, who leapfrog Sydney into second spot on the table, were an irresistible force, especially in the opening 45 minutes as they tore the defending champions apart
Williams, who was an absolute handful with her pace and skill, was the spark in the opening six minutes as she helped set up the first two goals for Amy Harrison and Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Cooney-Cross, a superstar in the making at just 17 years of age, then got her second just before half-time before Williams grabbed her second half double.
The Red & Black did not have a single bad performer on the park with every player contributing to what was a red letter day for the club and coach Dean Heffernan.
Williams and Cooney-Cross received great support from the likes of Denise O’Sullivan, Ella Mastrantonio and Harrison while the defence did a great job to keep the visitors scoreless.
The Wanderers could not have wished for a better start as they found themselves two goals up after just six minutes, thanks to Williams.
The American burst down the wing on four minutes, took on a defender then pushed the ball ahead before winning the race to it near the byline.
Williams cut the ball back to Kristen Hamilton, who had her back to goal before laying it off to Harrison to slam the ball home with a first time effort from about 12 metres.
Williams was at it again just two minutes later when she worked herself into the penalty area, cut back inside a defender then found Cooney-Cross with a pass at the far post, leaving the midfielder with a simple tap in.
Having totally dominated, it seemed inevitable the Wanderers would score again, and so it proved to be as they made it 3-0.
This time it was through the sheer individual brilliance of Cooney-Cross, who seized the opportunity with a superb first time curling effort inside the left post from 20 metres for her second of the game.
Williams was eventually rewarded for all her hard work on 76 minutes when she capitalised on a quick counter to slot the ball in from close range to make it 4-0 before adding another on 87 minutes.
