Thumping for Hamilton Wanderers

Xavier Pratt had the best chance of the game for Wanderers but had a lack of support up-front. Photo / Grant Stantiall

Hamilton Wanderers have five more games in 2017 to register at least one win for the calendar year after losing to Auckland City FC 6-0.

Life in the ISPS Handa Premiership has not be kind to coach Ricki Herbert as of yet who's team has only scored two goals in four games.

Their opponents on Sunday were table toppers Auckland City FC where many predicted a possible landslide for the Auckland team.

They were right, as Auckland City netted six past hapless goalkeeper Matt Oliver with Ryan de Vries and Emiliano Tade both getting two goals each.

Auckland, playing at home, started the game strong as Tade and Darren White both tested Oliver within the first 10 minutes before trouble struck early for the Hamilton team.

An attack found de Vries who was left with space to operate and made no mistake with his shot, putting Auckland 1-0 up in 14 minutes.

White and de Vries were involved with every attacking play early with only the offside flag keeping the Wanderers defence safe from conceding anymore.

In the 27th minute Albert Riera played in attacker Callum McCowatt who doubled the lead for Auckland with a well taken finsih.
Matt Oliver, in goal for Wanderers despite conceding two already, was still making some big saves in the first half to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Xavier Pratt and Marc Evans combined well up front for Hamilton but the opportunity was missed.

De Vries was then involved again as he crossed a ball into Tade's path who put Auckland 3-0 up just before the half time whistle.

Wanderers best chance came in the 54th minute when Pratt sent a cross straight across Auckland's penalty box, but there was no team mate to follow up, with the ball going out for a goal kick.

It then went from bad to worse for Wanderers as Liam Fellowes conceded an own goal to put Auckland 4-0 up.

Tade then secured his second goal of the game smashing the ball into the back off the net in the 78th minute with de Vries wrapping the game up in the 90th minute scoring his second and Auckland's sixth

The Wanderers youth side started brightly in their game against Auckland City youth but were unable to secure a win. They lost 3-1 in their game with Aaron Bayliss scoring the lone goal for Wanderers from the penalty spot.

Wanderers are back in home action next week against Team Wellington in their first live Sky Sports game of the season.