The Western Sydney Wanderers completed a 2-0 win over a spirited Macarthur Rams outfit tonight at Campbelltown Stadium in their first pre-season match of the 2013/14 A-League season.
The Wanderers opened their A-League Premiership defence in front of four and a half thousand raucous supporters, including a large contingent in the half-way line RBB section. Heavy rain prior to kick-off dampened expecations of a crowd numbering over 6,000 but those who did turn up were treated to a typical pre-season match. The Wanderers were rusty and had many players out of position or filling in from other State League teams, while the opposition Macarthur were up for the challenge and not bowed by the 2012/13 A-League Premiership winners.
The major surprise of the evening was that the Wanderers line-up included Nick Ward on trial. The utility journeyman, having been released from his second stint with the Perth Glory, took up position at right fullback. Unfortunately for the 28 year old, his performance was well below the standard one would expect from a Wanderers player, with seemingly every touch he made resulting in a loss of possession or killing a potential attacking thrust. He was caught flat-footed on several occasions and his positioning while the Wanderers were in possession was left wanting.
The second was the debut of a truly atrocious pre-season kit by Western Sydney. I don't know if it was created by putting together offcuts of fabric, but the garish striped number will go down in history as one of the worst kits ever used by an A-League team.
The rumours that a new back of shirt sponsor would be coming on board were confirmed as Mitsubishi Electric adorned the strip for the first time. A welcome addition and one that should help push the club closer to a break-even figure by the end of the season.
Two goals were scored on the night, the first half saw Shannon Cole convert a free kick on the half-hour mark. The kick wasn't particularly fast, but it managed to go through the wall and left the Macarthur goalkeeper stranded on the other side of his goal. The match was secured when Mark Bridge scored from close range in the second half with a strong finish after good lead up play from Trifiro and Minniecon. The match was a great way to kick off Season 2013/14 for the club and it's supporters, and I hope that the rest of the pre-season continues in the same manner.
The Wanderers next match will be against Canberra Olympic on Wednesday the 14th of August, 6:15 PM at the AIS Athletics Field in Canberra.
