Credit Tanner Coad
There was no need for last minute heroics this time around, as the Olympia Warriors powered to a comfortable 3-0 win over the Kingborough Lions at Warrior Park. A first half goal and assist from Jack Ryan helped secure the win, in a scrappy game that the Warriors controlled for the most part.
The Warriors started the stronger and nearly took the lead when Lucas Hill had time and space in the area, but his shot was denied by Smithies-Sharples getting back to make a vital goal line clearance.
Jordan Scott was highly influential in midfield and he came close unlocking their defence from his set piece delivery, a corner and free kick leading to near misses and a hit post.
Kenneth Perkinson was coming up big in the Lions net, and he denied Jono Ladic with some aggressive closing down before doing likewise to a pair of Jack Ryan volleys.
It was all one way traffic as Olympia knocked on the door in search of the openining goal and eventually it came via Ryan.
A well timed run and through ball from Nick Mearns provided him a one on one chance which he expertly placed into the bottom corner.
The Warriors onslaught continued and a second goal was soon to follow as Ryan turned provider. A raking through ball over the top from Vandermey released the Englishemn down the right and he crossed for Kurtz to fire home to double the advantage.
The Lions made adjustments into the second half, switching formations and moving players around. It made for a much more even second half showing, though it was a ultimately a scrappy second half affair.
Chances were at a premium and for as much as the Lions were better value, they weren't overly testing a Warriors defence that were content in the knowledge they had a 2 goal cushion.
Nick Cuthbertson could have made it interesting late on, when he skewed an effort wide following a free kick that saw Randall end up collided with, but outside of that, clear chances were hard to find.
As it was, Olympia were the side to add another goal, striking in stoppage time from substitute Jordan Thompson.
Perkinson, so outstanding for so much of the night, made a rare error, spilling a Vandermey cross and presenting Thompson with a simple chance to tap home and secure the 3-0 win.