Wanderers maul hapless Bulls
Western Sydney Wanderers put on an absolute clinic demolishing National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s cellar dwellers Bulls FC Academy 5-0 at the Sydney United Sports Centre to move one point clear of the relegation battle zone against the Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday.
The Wanderers were simply too clinical against a brave Bulls outfit who were unable to contain what was a high and fast press of the Red and Black squad that were fuelled on nothing less than a victory to help them with their relegation dogfight against the Rangers.
The goal fiesta kicked off in the 8th minute when Wanderers’ star boy Marcus Younis, fresh from signing a senior contract, fooled Jordan Ivancic with some amazing trickery before squaring an inch perfect ball to Alex Badolato who made no mistake to slot beyond a despairing Alex Robinson.
Badolato then turned provider in the 39th minute when a precise corner found the head of Wanderers striker Zac Sapsford and the gun attacker made no mistake smashing home his effort with his forehead and it was two to the good for the visitors.
Referee Sam Kelly blew for the half-time whistle and it was the Wanderers who had the majority of the play as they looked to assert their authority further in the second stanza.
And assert their authority they did as Sapsford continued his form of scoring goals worthy of Goal of the Year contenders with a scintillating right foot screamer that hit the top right corner of the net and it was 3-0 for the Wanderers in the 49th minute.
The Bulls were then thrown a lifeline in the 57th minute when Jed Drew was brought down in the area following a reckless challenge from Wanderers defender Teng Kuol.
Drew stepped up but saw his spot kick expertly saved by Wanderers number one Jack Gibson with the ball then hacked away by Aidan Simmons.
With the game opening up on both ends, it was the Wanderers who went further ahead in the 80th minute as Sapsford turned provider slotting through Simmons who blasted his shot home and it was 4-0.
The onslaught was complete in the 87th minute and it was another fine goal, this time scored by Adam Bugarija who unleashed hell with a right foot rocket from outside the box and it was game, set and match with the Wanderers recording a comfortable 5-0 win.
The victory for the Wanderers has put them a point in front of 15th placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers with this years rules stating the team finishing in second last position will play a two-legged playoff against the team finishing second in the League One Men’s competition.
It was a tough day in the office for the Bulls who have all but succumbed to being relegated to League One Football in 2024.
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 0
Western Sydney Wanderers 5 (Badolato 8’, Sapsford 39’, 49’, Simmons 80’, Bugarija 87’)
Saturday 29th July 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistant Referees: Emma Kocbek and Aaron Bloch
Fourth Official: Mitchell Renton
Bulls FC Academy: 30 Alex Robinson, 53 Joel Bertolissio, 22 Edward Caspers (6 Frans Deli 27’), 27 Jed Drew (8 Mason Wells 61’), 13 Jordan Ivancic (21 Lachlan Macdonald 61’), 23 Flynn Madden, 29 Michael Marcevski, 2 Luca Pecora, 20 Ariath Piol (11 Stephen De Robillard 79’, 52 Rhys Youlley, 19 Jesper Webber (10 Ayman Gulasi 61’)
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1 Jack Gibson, 10 Alex Badolato (21 Adam Bugarija 74’), 9 Nathanael Blair (23 Sunday Yona 66’, 7 Jarrod Carluccio, 4 Teng Kuol, 2 Anthony Pantazopoulos, 6 Oscar Priestman, 11 Zac Sapsford, 31 Aidan Simmons, 13 Marcus Younis (16 Thomas Lopez 85’), 14 George Antonis,
Cautions: Youlley, Sapsford.
Player Ratings:
3 – Zac Sapsford (WSW)
2 – Aidan Simmons (WSW)
1 – Marcus Younis (WSW)
-By Marcus Angello
