NPL Match review | Saturday 29th August 2021 | Olympia Warriors vs Riverside Olympic
2021 has been a year of changes at Olympia. Significantly with the departure of long-time president, George Mamacas and more recently, women’s advocate and manager Sarah Black. Academy coordinator, Nick Taylor also left the ranks at the end of the season. When the starting lineup came out for round one, it featured a group of very young and relatively inexperienced players who I recognised mostly from the youth leagues and Under 20’s statewide competitions.
With a lack of the same level of investment, a number of players appeared at other clubs. New president George Varios has had his work cut out. New academy leader and Women's Super League coach, Matt Kilsby was also dealing with an unknown entity in the juniors and female programs and for me and many others, Olympia was not the same bustling place as times in the past. The games lacked the same atmosphere that George created and although there was a touch of pantomime villain about his zeroooooooooo on the loudspeaker, I think we all loved to hate that a bit.
It was this last home game of the season that Olympia pulled the tricks out of the bag both on and off the field. Embracing something that is quite unique to Olympia in its Greek heritage. Emails and socials went out during the week to encourage the fans to show up. Wear Blue and be part of this experience for the last home game at Warrior Park. It worked. The power of a bit of good marketing got the message out to the whole community and Warrior Park was back to its former glory albeit without George on the mic. The smell of the greek food offering was mouthwatering and players/mates/dads and mums all chipped in. The youth teams were drumming up raffle ticket sales for the club. This is what it’s all about.
[caption id="attachment_17528" align="aligncenter" width="670"]
Olympia Youth players tucking into the fantastic Greek Food served at the game. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
Change is tough, but it takes time to find the flow again. The building of the new facilities at Warrior Park also signifies the new structural building of the club in general.
This change that we saw on the field has taken time too. These youngsters were propelled into a competition featuring players many years their senior and although their early rounds reflected that, I think that Olympia may find more of this success in 2022.
They met with Riverside, who have faced some changes of their own. In the wake of president Stuart McCarron, another familiar face around the Tassie football scene and a great advocate of the game, stepping down. The boys in orange got of to a tremendous start, with their physical style of play shocking the youngsters in just the fourth minute of the game.
It was Will Humphrey with a free kick, sailing past keeper Elliot Hoystead, taking the score to 0-1.
[caption id="attachment_17526" align="aligncenter" width="645"]
Riverside Celebrate the first goal against Olympia. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
A battle of wills through the first half kept the crowd entertained and a number of missed attempts by Riverside denied them from increasing the scoreline. Riverside kept most of the possession in the first half with some concise passing causing Warriors to chase their tails. Some excellent keeping by Hoystead also kept Riverside at bay.
Equally, at the other end of the field, Olympia broke free a number of times but missed some key goal-scoring opportunities teamed with some excellent saving by Riverside gloveman Dan Nash.
[caption id="attachment_17527" align="aligncenter" width="642"]
Riverside Goalkeeper, Dan Nash. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
The deadlock was broken in the 38th minute as Olympia broke through the tough riverside defense. Kyle Vincent, weaving around three defenders and taking a shot on goal. The goal was not awarded to Vincent, however, as it clipped the defender on the way into the net, resulting in an own-goal for Riverside.
Half Time Score: Olympia Warriors 1 (OG 38') - Riverside Olympic 1 (Humphrey 5')
There was a similar theme to the second half. End-to-end football, which delighted the crowd.
The third goal, another own goal for Riverside was again a result of a run by Vincent and what looked to clip Nash as he fell to the floor, catching the ball just over the line. The score was now 2-1 to Olympia.
In the 74th minute, another player who seems to have found his feet in the last few weeks is Bilal Ait Mamar. His strike was almost saved by a flying Nash. His efforts were foiled as the ball curled over his head and firmly into the back of the net.
[caption id="attachment_17529" align="aligncenter" width="665"]
Bilal Ait Mamar, on the scoresheet for Olympia. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
In the 87th Minute of the game, goalkeeper Michael Moschogianis, Olympia team manager and a face known to many as the head of sport at local boys school St Virgils College, was substituted on. This delighted many of the St Virgils students and youth players who were at the game. The cheers every time he touched the ball were an amusing and entertaining addition to the atmosphere.
The deal was sealed for Olympia in the 91st minute of the game, with a strike from Brayton Allan.
[caption id="attachment_17530" align="aligncenter" width="648"]
Brayton Allen celebrates his goal for Olympia. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
Full Time score: Olympia Warriors 4 (OG 38', 73', Bilal 74', Allan 91') - Riverside 1 (Humphrey 5')
Olympia Youth players tucking into the fantastic Greek Food served at the game. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
Change is tough, but it takes time to find the flow again. The building of the new facilities at Warrior Park also signifies the new structural building of the club in general.
This change that we saw on the field has taken time too. These youngsters were propelled into a competition featuring players many years their senior and although their early rounds reflected that, I think that Olympia may find more of this success in 2022.
They met with Riverside, who have faced some changes of their own. In the wake of president Stuart McCarron, another familiar face around the Tassie football scene and a great advocate of the game, stepping down. The boys in orange got of to a tremendous start, with their physical style of play shocking the youngsters in just the fourth minute of the game.
It was Will Humphrey with a free kick, sailing past keeper Elliot Hoystead, taking the score to 0-1.
[caption id="attachment_17526" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Riverside Celebrate the first goal against Olympia. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
A battle of wills through the first half kept the crowd entertained and a number of missed attempts by Riverside denied them from increasing the scoreline. Riverside kept most of the possession in the first half with some concise passing causing Warriors to chase their tails. Some excellent keeping by Hoystead also kept Riverside at bay.
Equally, at the other end of the field, Olympia broke free a number of times but missed some key goal-scoring opportunities teamed with some excellent saving by Riverside gloveman Dan Nash.
[caption id="attachment_17527" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Riverside Goalkeeper, Dan Nash. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
The deadlock was broken in the 38th minute as Olympia broke through the tough riverside defense. Kyle Vincent, weaving around three defenders and taking a shot on goal. The goal was not awarded to Vincent, however, as it clipped the defender on the way into the net, resulting in an own-goal for Riverside.
Half Time Score: Olympia Warriors 1 (OG 38') - Riverside Olympic 1 (Humphrey 5')
There was a similar theme to the second half. End-to-end football, which delighted the crowd.
The third goal, another own goal for Riverside was again a result of a run by Vincent and what looked to clip Nash as he fell to the floor, catching the ball just over the line. The score was now 2-1 to Olympia.
In the 74th minute, another player who seems to have found his feet in the last few weeks is Bilal Ait Mamar. His strike was almost saved by a flying Nash. His efforts were foiled as the ball curled over his head and firmly into the back of the net.
[caption id="attachment_17529" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Bilal Ait Mamar, on the scoresheet for Olympia. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
In the 87th Minute of the game, goalkeeper Michael Moschogianis, Olympia team manager and a face known to many as the head of sport at local boys school St Virgils College, was substituted on. This delighted many of the St Virgils students and youth players who were at the game. The cheers every time he touched the ball were an amusing and entertaining addition to the atmosphere.
The deal was sealed for Olympia in the 91st minute of the game, with a strike from Brayton Allan.
[caption id="attachment_17530" align="aligncenter" width="648"] Brayton Allen celebrates his goal for Olympia. Picture: Linda Higginson[/caption]
Full Time score: Olympia Warriors 4 (OG 38', 73', Bilal 74', Allan 91') - Riverside 1 (Humphrey 5')