Sharks sink Wanderers in crucial six pointer affair

The Sutherland Sharks recorded a 3-1 victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers in a huge win in their fight to starve off relegation at Seymour Shaw on Saturday. 

A dearth of goals in previous games set the backdrop for what was an important ninety minutes in the context of both teams flirting perilously close to the foot of the ladder in 14th and 13th place respectively.

Ricky Fransen was forced into a last ditch tackle on Tye McGowan to send the ball out for a corner when the Sutherland man pounced on a poor back pass in the 12th minute. Jesse Cameron fired one over at the other end moments earlier although neither gloveman was tested.

Richard Shoueki stole in from the left and attempted a curling effort, it lacked pace and power, that Tristan Vidackovic saw all the way and saved comfortably for the first shot on target of the match in what was proving an even and cagey contest.

A smart move down the right led to the opening goal in the 21st minute when Lachlan Fields backheeled the ball out to the wing which was played back in to him. His initial shot was blocked but Maki Petratos was on hand to snap up the rebound and fire the Sharks into the lead. In the process, the striker became the Sharks’ leading scorer this season with just three to his name.

Petratos was on hand to add his second of the match just seven minutes later when planting the ball into the net off the right hand upright.

Having started slowly, Sutherland found another gear and looked hungry for more. A win would see them swap places with today’s opponents.

Awan Lual had a shot cleared off the line by Mo Ahmed as the Wanderers fought back. This was a real ‘six pointer’ in every sense of the age old football adage and equally as entertaining as any battle of the top two.

With the Sharks reducing their visitors to long range efforts, it came as no surprise there was no addition to the scoreboard before the break leaving the home side two goals to the good.

Lual was not to be denied after the restart when holding off the Sharks’ defence and sliding the ball home to reduce the deficit with a well taken effort to reignite the game.

Petratos laid on the perfect ball for McGowan to head goalward inside the 6-yard box only for Vidackovic to expertly bat the ball down and away from danger. A third for the Sharks would have left the youngsters of Wanderers with a near impossible mountain to climb.

The action was condensed between the boxes with neither side able to capitalize on good lead up work and add further goals to the effort.

That was until the Wanderers replaced Dallo with Akol Akon in the 74th minute with Sutherland immediately restoring their two goal lead through McGowan’s powerful strike.

With little prior to nor after the goals, other than a skirmish near the end resulting in a flurry of cautions, Sutherland clung on to record their first three points since March in front of a healthy ‘Shire crowd for a much needed and gratefully received win and hoping it was to be the catalyst that will see them slowly climb the ladder.

For the Wanderers, it was another bitter defeat to keep them languishing near the foot of the table with two thirds of the season played.

Match Stats

Sutherland Sharks: 3 (Maki Petratos 21’, 28’, Tye McGowan 74’)

Western Sydney Wanderers: 1 (Awan Lual 49’)

Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda Saturday, 7th June, 2025

Referee: Rebecca Mackie

Assistants: Anastasia Filacouridis and Luke Chapman Fourth Official: Mia Velarde

Sutherland Sharks: 1. Danijel Nizic, 2. Lachlan Macdonald, 4. Lachlan Fields, 6. Mohamed Ahmed, 10. Yerasimakis Petratos (8. Nick Sullivan 88’), 12. Ikko Ehode Arimoto, 15. Matthew Moric, 17. Richard Shoueiki (3. Jordan Roberts 86’), 22. Kotaro Katsuta, 23. Mason Fernandez, 44.Tye McGowan (90+1’)

Subs not used: 30. Sebastian Arranz, 40. Riley Fowler, 44. Tye McGowan58. Daniel Wong

Yellow Cards: Tye McGowan 66’, Richard Shoueki 83’, Lachlan Fields 90+3’, Nick Sullivan 90+4’

Red Cards: Nil

Western Sydney Wanderers: 1. Tristan Vidackovic, 2. Nathan Barrie, 4.Ricky Franssen, 6. Ryley Hollingdale, 7. Dallo Sandy (36. Akol Akon 74’), 9. Alaat Abdul-Rahman, 18. Awan Lual, 22. Jesse Cameron, 26. Anthony Barbic, 27. Julian Cop (38. Noah Peacock 83’), 29. Edmun Haddad

Subs not used: 8. Nicholas Badolato, 11. Kaan Nizam, 13. Thomas Cutuk, 20. Lucas Sinnot

Yellow Cards: Jesse Cameron 24’, Ryley Hollingdale 62’, Tristan Vidackovic 90+4’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Yerasimakis Petratos (SS)

2 – Tye McGowan (SS)

1 – Lachlan Fields (SS)

By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock