Wagga City Wanderers suffered their most comprehensive loss of the season to State League competition leader St George FC in Cootamundra on Saturday.
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St George did most of the damage in the first half, forging a 4-0 lead in its 5-0 victory.
The visitors set the tone in the first minute, moving towards goal as a unit, crossing it from the right winger to the centre forward at the top of the 18 yard box, who took a shot, saved and deflected by Wagga keeper Robert Fry. St George shot again and scored on the second crack.
Wanderers coach Andrew Douglas said the team was shell-shocked for the first 15 minutes.
"We were five to 10 metres too deep," Douglas said.
"They were very well-drilled.
“Give those teams too much space in the midway part of the field and they'll set up their attack and pounce on you. That’s the benchmark, now they’ve seen it, they know where they need to be if they want to play at that higher level.”
Jake Ploenges came off the bench in the the second half, changing the dynamic of the right wing, forcing St George to use the other side.
Skipper Sam Mangelsdorf put his body on the line continuously as last man.
With Caylum Barber returning to the injury ward after tearing his groin on Saturday, the Wanderers will welcome the return of suspended striker Scott Dunn as they play Hurstville City Minotaurs next week.