No one will die wandering when the Western Sydney Wanderers take on Mounties Wanderers on Saturday night with Trevor Morgan’s side needing three points to keep the heat on rivals and competition frontrunners Sydney FC.
The Red & Black currently sit behind their fierce cross-town rivals and with a big derby clash on the horizon the following Saturday, the Wanderers must keep pace with the pace setters against their fourth-placed opponents at Blacktown Football Park.
Having dropped points to Marconi in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Popondetta Park, there’s little margin for error in what could prove to be a potential banana skin for the Wanderers.
Currently fourth on the PlayStation 4 NPL2 NSW Men’s competition ladder, Mounties were defeated 1-0 by NPL1 heavyweights Manly United in the Westfield FFA Cup on Wednesday.
And although their league form has been patchy of late, a 1-0 win over mid-table St. George last Sunday provided a significant amount of respite following a 3-1 loss to Marconi and two consecutive draws with Bankstown City and North Shore Mariners.
It remains an important game for the Luis Contigiani coached Mounties, who have a host of teams breathing down their necks vying for a top six position.
Matthew West represents the main goal scoring threat for Mounties, with the British import enjoying a fine season with seven goals in 10 matches and looking set to break his highest goal scoring tally of eight.
Having signed Hyundai A-League contracts earlier last week, it’s another chance for the Wanderers’ leading goal scorer Lachlan Scott and creative attacker Mario Shabow to display their elite credentials.
The dynamic pair have spearheaded the Red and Black’s successful NPL debut so far with 12 and five goals respectively and will no doubt be key figures for the Wanderers in Saturday’s clash.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Mounties Wanderers
7pm Saturday 21 May
Blacktown Football Park
