Santalab Seals Dominant Win On Coast

Super sub Brendon Santalab scored a 65th minute goal that put the Wanderers ahead, with Mitch Nichols providing the sealer in the 90th minute.

The Western Sydney Wanderers produced another dominant performance to go joint top of the A-League despite a late Mariners comeback, with the Red & Black proving too good for the hosts in Gosford this afternoon.

After coming on in the 58th minute for Dario Vidosic, Santalab latched onto a superb through ball by Mitch Nichols, streamed in on goal before firing past Paul Izzo from the edge of the penalty area to open the scoring.

Central Coast came on very strong in the last 10 minutes, throwing men forward in search of an equaliser. Their best chance of the game came from Nick Fitzgerald, who had his shot denied by an outstanding reflex save from Andrew Redmayne that arguably saved all 3 points for the Wanderers.

In the dying seconds of the game the Wanderers finally sealed the match, Jaushua Sotirio drew several defenders, Mitch Nichols was in acres of space on the penalty spot, Sotirio knocked through to the attacking midfielder. Nichols' shot was utterly dreadful, but with Izzo diving to his right, the ball dribbled over the line in one of the worst quality goals in the history of the A-League. Even Nichols himself looked embarrassed to have scored, but in the end they all count and the game was won for the Wanderers.

As with the other matches in this round, the RBB and Yellow Army, the respective active support groups staged their own protests due to the FFA's unjust ban process, and their failure to support football and it's supporters after the vehement and disgusting attacks on the sport from the anti-football media in the past week. The RBB left the ground in the 30th minute, with both the RBB & Yellow Army unveiling protest banners against the FFA. With Damien de Bohun refusing to bring in a just and fair, independent appeal process, and once again failing to defend the supporters, it is likely these protests will continue into further matches of the A-League season.