The Olympia F.C Warriors produced one of their more dominant performances of the season, as they downed Hobart Zebras 3-1 on Sunday at Warrior Park.
The Warriors were in the ascendancy for much of the contest and when Lucas Hill nodded home just past the hour mark, the game was effectively settled.
After an uneventful opening quarter of an hour, Jordan Scott opened the scoring when he smashed a drive from outside the box that took a deflection and flew top corner beyond the reach of Sam Whatman, who was kept mighty busy in the Zebras net all afternoon.
But the Zebras produced the immediate response as a lovely flowing move through the midfield led to Dwayne Walsh being played in on the right hand side of the box. He absolutely blasted his shot with power and despite Mcdonald getting a hand on it, he couldn't keep it out and the Zebras were back on terms immediately.
Mulungula quickly restored the Warriors advantage though as he tapped home from close range after Mearns had fired a volley at Whatman. The big Kiwi saved it but left the rebound on the doorstep and Mulungula was on the spot for the simple tap in.
The chances began to mount as the half wore on and the Warriors were starting to dominate the game. Whatman made some nice saves but it was clear something had to change at half time or the Warriors were going to run away with it.
But it was more of the same in the second stanza as the Warriors continued to dial up the pressure and lay siege to the Zebras penalty area.
Only Sam Whatman was keeping at 2-1, making some nice saves early in the half, but there was nothing he could do just past the hour mark when Lucas Hill rose to head home a Scott corner.
The Mountain headed powerfully past the keeper to give the Warriors the multiple goal lead that their play had demanded.
The Zebras best moments in this game all came following Olympia goals though and they almost pulled it back to 3-2 instantly, only for Mcdonald to make a pair of saves.
From then on out the Warriors ground their way to victory, infrequently threatening the goal but in total control of the game. Despite a triple sub the Zebras couldn't wrestle back any semblance of control and the hosts ended up comfortable 3-1 victors.
The victory leaves the Warriors five points behind Devonport, with both sides now reaching the halfway mark of their season, having played 12 games. It leaves their title hopes firmly alive and kicking.
With 7 of their final 12 games to be played at this Warrior Park venue where they are playing some really good football, they remain firmly in the mix.
The Zebras meanwhile now sit some 14 points off the pace and coach Dave Smith conceded post game that they were all but out of the running, and that the rest of the season would be about building for the future.