https://youtu.be/E-P7JFsiow8
Olympia have continued their recent revival of form downing Riverside 3-1 at Windsor Park on Saturday.
Goals from Hill, Yost and Vandermey cancelled Tom Prince’s header, in what may prove to be an important result as the team adapts to the loss of both Andrew Brown and Jack Ryan.
The game kicked off at an overcast Windsor Park with corner after corner for the visiting side.
The Warriors won six corners in under five minutes to start the game but failed to create any solid chances from them. This lack of finishing almost cost the visitors with Nil Sanz just missing the decisive touch to put the ball past Randall in the ninth minute for the home team.
As the half continued both teams allowed the other to hold possession, letting their opponents play the ball around the back before contesting the midfield and attempting to win the ball. Clear cut chances were hard to come by until the 31st minute, where Lucas Hill put the visiting side ahead.
Hill’s goal came after the Warriors won three more corners in the space of three minutes. Brown whipped the ball in from the left and the ball spilled to Hill, with the centre back striking to put his side one goal up.
Incredibly this timeline is eerily similar to what happened just eight minutes later, when Tom Prince found an equaliser. Prince’s goal also came after Riverside won consecutive corners, with the centre back heading home to bring the scores to 1-1.
Whilst this score probably accurately represented what had happened on the pitch so far, the Warriors had other ideas, regaining the lead four minutes after Prince’s equaliser.
The visitors second goal came when Brown won the ball off the Riverside defence. He then played it to Austin Yost who took one touch before hitting a brilliant strike past Hill and into the back of the net. This goal moved the score to 2-1 and this was how it would remain as the half time whistle blew.
The second half began with the Warriors on the attack, however once again they were failing to create clear chances. The first clear chance of the half came in the 58th minute when both Aaron Campbell and the home crowd thought he was through on goal; however, the flag was raised for offside. Soon after this the Warriors traveled down the other end of the field, with Allan forcing a good save from Hill.
Five minutes after these chances Riverside almost found an equaliser after the ball fell in the box, however despite calls for a foul, Randall did well to defend his goal. The Warriors then began to dominate the contest, playing the ball around the pitch, creating chances and showing some flair, before they made a third breakthrough in the 80th minute.
The Warriors third goal came after Lucas Hill was fouled in the box, with the referee blowing his whistle despite the player staying on his feet. Then after some discussion with his assistant, the referee pointed to the penalty spot, with Jake Vandermey converting well, putting his side 3-1 up.
As the game drew to a close both sides had chances, with a combination play between Declan and Callum Brown almost giving the Warriors a fourth, however it was not to be, with Olympia winning 3-1.
The result sees both teams remain in the bottom half of the table, with Riverside in seventh and Olympia just two points away from fourth in fifth place.
Next week Riverside travel to Valley Road to take on Devonport at 2:15 pm on Saturday, whilst Olympia take on the Clarence Zebras at 6:30pm also on Saturday.