WYNNUM Wolves produced a ruthless attacking display to dismantle Sunshine Coast Wanderers 6-2 at Ballinger Park on Friday night, with the contest effectively over by half-time after a stunning five-goal blitz.
The Wolves were on the front foot immediately and struck within three minutes.
Left winger Ryo Emoto raced onto a ball in behind before cutting it back to Zac Maltby, who coolly tucked away the opener with his left foot.
Emoto doubled the advantage seven minutes later with the goal of the night, winning possession high up the pitch and unleashing a fierce right-foot strike into the top corner from 20 yards.
The Wanderers defence had no answer to Wynnum’s pace and movement, and Maltby soon added his second. Put clean through on goal, the forward saw his first effort saved by keeper Bon Scott but reacted quickest to bury the rebound.
The visitors were relentless, and Jez Lofthouse made it four in the 35th minute with a composed finish into the roof of the net.
Maltby then completed his hat-trick six minutes later, once again punishing slack defending with a clinical left-foot strike.
At 5-0, the Wolves were in complete control heading into the break.
To their credit, the Wanderers showed character in the second half.
Jordan Richardson gave the home fans something to cheer about in the 52nd minute with a long-range strike that flew past the keeper.
Just three minutes later, substitute Miles De Luca added another with a curling effort from distance, briefly sparking hopes of an unlikely comeback.
But those hopes were short-lived.
Emoto struck again on 57 minutes, calmly finishing a flowing move to restore Wolves’ four-goal cushion and kill off the contest.
The victory underlined Wynnum’s attacking strength, with Maltby and Emoto in irresistible form, while Wanderers will be left to reflect on a nightmare first half that proved their undoing.
