City began this game with purpose and Noone was to the fore as they looked to take the game to the visitors.
His excellent first touch took him clear of his marker in the eighth minute and he hared off down the left flank before sending a cross over which Socceroo frontman Jamie Maclaren headed over.
Erick Mombaerts, City’s new French coach, was facing A-League opposition in a competitive fixture for the first time and he would have been pleased with what he was seeing as his midfield men and forwards were interchanging passes and playing with fluidity.
Noone and Maclaren combined again in the 17th minute when Noone, who had played in the English Championship earlier in his career, got clear on the left and flighted another cross that found Maclaren unmarked.
The forward got good purchase on his close range volley, but hit it close to Wanderers new goalkeeper Daniel Lopar, who made an excellent save.
Another of City’s promising youngsters, Connor Metcalfe, started this game in midfield. He linked well with Noone, who set up another youngster in winger Ramy Najjarine but the latter failed to take advantage of his opportunity.
The Wanderers occasionally posed a threat when they broke forward, with former Melbourne Victory title-winning defender Daniel Georgievski involved in most of the Wanderers positive moves linking with striker Kwame Yeboah and Radoslaw Majewski.
But City got the break they needed in the 34th minute thanks to a blunder by Lopar and some quick feet by Noone.
The goalkeeper tried to prevent Tarek Elrich’s header going out for a corner but succeeded only in turning the ball back into play. Noone seized on the ball, dribbled round Dylan McGowan and finished into an empty net.
Wanderers had a golden chance to equalise in the 43rd minute when Yeboah was played through by Majewski, made space for himself but fired over when through on goal.
A minute later the Sydney side was punished for its profligacy when Maclaren made amends for his earlier misses with an exquiste flick from a Scott Galloway cross to double City’s lead.
Lopar produced an excellent save early in the second half to keep out Metcalfe after the midfielder had been set up by Noone, and then the Polish goalkeeper punched clear to keep out Najjarine’s cross.
Dean Bouzanis had had little to do in the City goal all evening, but he showed he was alert when diving to keep out a shot by former City winger Bruce Kamau just before the hour mark.
Maclaren should have put the game beyond all doubt in the 65th minute when a long ball from defence found Noone. The latter slipped a pass to Maclaren only for Lopar to punch away the attempted chip.
The Socceroos front man wasn’t giving up though, and he worked hard to chase down a contested ball before firing just wide with 23 minutes remaining.
Mohamed Adam drove over in the 79th minute as the Wanderers looked for inspiration, but it was City who threatened once again when Noone broke clear.
His first effort was wide, but his second, with 10 minutes remaining, was an excellent curling finish that went in off the post after he had been picked out by a long Josh Brillante pass.
While City were easing past Western Sydney Wanderers, the Brisbane Strikers were facing NPL Victoria 2 club Moreland Zebras.
The Queenslanders went 2-0 up before the Zebras pulled one back. Brisbane stretched the lead to two again when they went 3-1 up before surviving a late Zebras challenge after the visitors scored again with eight mintutes remaining.
Brisbane eventually won the tie 3-2.
In the other semi-final Central Coast Mariners, who beat Hume City 1-0 on Tuesday night, will host Adelaide United, 1-0 winners over Newcastle Jets on the same evening.
Michael Lynch is The Age’s chief soccer reporter and also reports on motor sport and horseracing