Mark Bridge shooting at goal. Picture: Simon Bennett
WESTERN Sydney Wanderers threw down the gauntlet to other codes in the battle to win people's hearts and minds on Saturday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
In a great advertisement for soccer and for the A-League, a crowd of more than 10,500 created an electric atmosphere for the Community Round clash between Wanderers and Newcastle Jets.
Wanderers' 2-1 victory gave them the honour of being the first A-League team to win five consecutive games this season. On Saturday they travel to Melbourne to take on third-placed Victory at 7.45pm.
Wanderers opened the scoring through Youssouf Hersi in first-half injury time.
The Red and Black Bloc Wanderers fans' enthusiasm spilled over when a section of supporters crashed through and collapsed fencing following celebrations after the goal.
Mark Bridge doubled the lead in the 84th minute before Ruben Zadkovich scored an injury time consolation goal for Newcastle.
The spectacle was a first for many sport fans and one of those was Ingleburn man John Colvin.
Colvin's most recent soccer experience reached a pinnacle when he was in a corporate box watching Glasgow Celtic as part of a 60,000 crowd, while on holiday in Scotland earlier this month.
Hitting the highs, mingling with former Celtic, also Champions' League-winners during the overseas game, Colvin described Saturday's atmosphere as also being a memorable moment and a "positive experience" during his first A-League encounter.
"This was my first A-league game and it was an enjoyable and immensely satisfying evening for this football connoisseur," he said.
"In the game itself, for me, Newcastle's number three (Zenon Caravella) was the best player on display; he exhibited intelligent play and all his passes found their destination."