The Olympia Warriors claimed their first points of the NPL Tasmania season as they easily dealt with Riverside Olympic, running out resounding 5-1 winners at Warrior Park on Saturday. The Warriors have been dominant in their previous meeting with Olympic at Warrior Park and it was a familiar script this time around, as their big attacking guns picked apart the visitors defence to kick start their season.
The first major chance of the game fell to the hosts when Wadawu's cross found Declan Brown in space at the back post but he couldn't keep his header down. It set the tone for the first half with Olympia looking dangerous in wide areas and peppering the Riverside area with a series of threatening balls. Jack Ryan came closest to breaking the deadlock as he rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort that had the keeper beat, but not the woodwork.
Having been pinned back in their own end for much of the half, Riverside could well have taken the lead on 35 minutes as Nil Sanz crafted a clever cross that found Tom Prince whose header also belted into the crossbar.
The woodwork was getting a constant workout as Jack Ryan again picked it out, this time with a header much to his frustration. But two minutes later they got their goal, as Nicholas Mearns opened the scoring. An in swinging corner was firmly met at near post by the head of Mearns who made great contact and found the back of the net.
In the final minute of the half Olympia then doubled the lead as Callum Brown fed Jack Ryan whose initial shot was well saved by Hill but the rebound fell into the path of an onrushing Declan Brown who swept home what was on the balance of play, a deserved second goal for the Warriors.
Olympia really should have killed the contest off early in the second half, as they squandered multiple chances to extend their lead to three, with Riverside just holding on and under constant pressure at the back.
They were then granted a lifeline when Vandermey fouled Fulton as he skipped into the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot for what would be the first of three second half penalties.
Nil Sanz made no mistake with his spot kick cutting the lead to 2-1 and breathing life back into his side despite his side having been second best for most the contest.
Olympia's response was almost immediate, scoring a chaotic third to restore their buffer. It was substitute Ben Hamlett on the follow up who scored the goal after King's goal line clearance to deny Ryan deflected off the post and into his path.
That seemed to settle the Warriors and from there they cruised home adding two more goals in the process.
Both came from the penalty spot after Hamlett was brought down by Gilmore on 79 minutes, and Callum Brown was clipped by Humphrey 10 minutes later.
After enduring a frustrating day in front of goal, big Jack Ryan dispatched both spot kicks in emphatic style to secure the 5-1 win victory for his side.
The win was the Warriors first of the season and will need to be the beginning of a long winning streak if they are to get themselves back into the title race. For Riverside, Warrior Park continues to be a house of pain, making it third time they have shipped 5 goals in their 3 NPL TAS road trips to the venue.
https://youtu.be/701D72kgHrI
Olympia really should have killed the contest off early in the second half, as they squandered multiple chances to extend their lead to three, with Riverside just holding on and under constant pressure at the back.
They were then granted a lifeline when Vandermey fouled Fulton as he skipped into the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot for what would be the first of three second half penalties.
Nil Sanz made no mistake with his spot kick cutting the lead to 2-1 and breathing life back into his side despite his side having been second best for most the contest.
Olympia's response was almost immediate, scoring a chaotic third to restore their buffer. It was substitute Ben Hamlett on the follow up who scored the goal after King's goal line clearance to deny Ryan deflected off the post and into his path.
That seemed to settle the Warriors and from there they cruised home adding two more goals in the process.
Both came from the penalty spot after Hamlett was brought down by Gilmore on 79 minutes, and Callum Brown was clipped by Humphrey 10 minutes later.
After enduring a frustrating day in front of goal, big Jack Ryan dispatched both spot kicks in emphatic style to secure the 5-1 win victory for his side.
The win was the Warriors first of the season and will need to be the beginning of a long winning streak if they are to get themselves back into the title race. For Riverside, Warrior Park continues to be a house of pain, making it third time they have shipped 5 goals in their 3 NPL TAS road trips to the venue.
https://youtu.be/701D72kgHrI