Wagga City Wanderers are through to the next FFA Cup round, after a commanding 5-0 win over Revesby at Valentine Park on Saturday.
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Wagga players took 10 minutes to adjust to the bounce of the synthetic field, and controlled the match from then on.
Fifteen minutes in, the Wanderers made their first mark on the scoreboard, and continued to belt them in, scoring all five goals in the first half.
“I feel it was quite attractive football,” coach Ben Schmid said.
“If we couldn’t go forward we’d pull it out and change direction, we used our width quite well. I went in at half time really happy with what we were doing.”
Lachie Davis, who played for Wanderers under 20’s last year, was a standout upfront, scoring two goals.
Centre mid Sam Jones played well on his first grade debut, working with Caylum Barber to provide good service to Davis and winger Tyler Allen.
Goalkeeper Robert Fry was hardly tested, making two saves.
It's a great start. We set the goal to have a clean sheet and that’s what we did
- Wagga City Wanderers' coach Ben Schmid
Next week, Schmid wants the team to keep up the intensity for the full 90 minutes.
“We didn’t have as much purpose in the second half, we slacked off a little bit, there was less movement in front third,” he said.
“They came out a bit harder at it, too.”
In all, he was pleased with the troops.
“It’s a great start,” he said.
“We set the goal to have a clean sheet and that’s what we did.”
The squad prevailed without US import Alex Millour, who was fit and willing, but awaits international clearance.
“It was really pleasing, 14 out of 15 of our players grew up playing soccer in Wagga,” Schmid said.
Wagga’s sole import, Spaniard Carlos Alonso, was subbed-off due to an ankle injury 60 minutes in.
Schmid believes Alonso will be fit to play next week.
The win was made all the more enjoyable, with Wagga United’s squad watching the first-half before they went into the changerooms to prepare for their FFA Cup match.
Goal-scorers: Lachie Davis (2), Carlos Alonso, Daniel Okot, Revesby player’s own-goal