WAGGA City Wanderers attacker Freddie Gardner has boldly declared the club can win the National Premier League 2 Canberra title after shocking league heavyweights ANU 3-1 at Gissing Oval on Saturday.
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The Wanderers have now won two of their first three games against two of the strongest clubs in the league thanks to second half goals from Justin Curran and American debutant Frank Macias.
Gardner scored his third goal of the season off a free kick to give the hosts the lead after four minutes, before ANU equalised through Nelson Cary ten minutes before the break.
But Curran's long range strike in the 73rd minute and Macias' free kick ten minutes later secured all three points for the Wanderers.
Gardner was forthright when asked what the Wanderers are capable of achieving in their first year in the Canberra competition.
Gardner and brother Henri are accustomed to success after being part of Lake Albert's unbeaten run to the title in last year's Pascoe Cup.
"If the team we have can be available for road trips to Canberra I reckon we can win it, there's no doubt about it," Gardner said.
"I don't just play for the fun of it, I want to win.
"Henri and I are really enjoying it (new league), it's a style of play that suits us and I'm getting a lot of improvement out of it.
"The players we're up against are unreal, everyone's at the same level so it's only making me work harder and I love that."
After beginning the game with a 4-4-2 formation, the Wanderers' decision to take the game on in the second half was rewarded.
Defender Prince Thompson's shift to striker from the back-line opened up goal scoring options.Shaun Moffat is expected to miss some games for the Wanderers after injuring his ankle late in the match, while defender defender Dylan Berkrey has played his last game for the season after deciding to return home to the UK for work.
"Two from three games has exceeded our expectations, especially given the teams we've beaten are the runners up and winners from last season," Morgan said.
Meanwhile, Wanderers' women's team went down to Canberra FC 13-2 on Sunday afternoon.
NPL 2 CANBERRA
Wagga City Wanderers 3 (Freddie Gardner 4', Justin Curran 73', Frank Macias 83') def ANU 1 (Nelson Cary 35') at Gissing Oval on Saturday
Under-20s: Wanderers 2 drew with ANU 2.
Wanderers junior results against Tuggeranong: under-13s won 5-1, under-14s won 3-2, under-16s lost 4-1, under-18s won 8-0.
