https://youtu.be/RxY6SsL8EMY
The Olympia Warriors have stormed to a 6-3 win over South Hobart in an absolute goal fest at Darcy Street. The brilliance of the Brown twins and a fine showing from Nicholas Mearns in a new look striking role helped secure the victory, as 3 goals in the final five minutes of the first half did the bulk of the damage.
The opening goal of the game came on 13 minutes via Nicholas Mearns who was cast in the role of a striker, playing between the Brown twins on either flank and the move proved a masterstroke from Rob Clarke. Having seen South twice come close at the other end, Mearns fired off an opportunistic strike from a tight angle that took a deflection which deceived Reid and saw it fly past him and into the back of the net.
But South quickly responded and got back on terms from the penalty spot when Morton converted the spot kick that he had won with a clever flick over the defence before being brought tumbling by Darby Randall.
Having restored parity it was South who looked on top in general play and certainly appeared the more likely side to score before half time, with Randall twice making sharp saves but that would all change in five minutes of pure madness leading into the break.
After being denied by the offside flag 8 minutes earlier, Declan Brown timed his run to perfection and ran onto a lobbed ball over the top to poke home the go-ahead goal.
Two minutes later and the lead was doubled as Adam Gorrie marked a successful return to Darcy Street by crossing onto the head of Mearns who rose and thumped home the header to make it 3-1.
Reeling from the double strike, South's day then got even worse when a penalty was awarded to Callum Brown after he was slightly clipped by Reid as he went to round him.
Jake Vandermey made no mistake from the spot, firing in the penalty to make it 4-1 at half time and have the Warriors well on the way to winning.
Any hopes of a South Hobart fightback were then extinguished when Callum Brown tapped home from close range after Gorrie picked him out with a cross from the by-line. Having had another goal waved away for offside just four minutes prior, it was fair to say he enjoyed it as the Warriors day out continued.
To their credit South never stopped fighting and on balance of chances they held their own in the match, pulling one back when Gilly Desouza swept home the rebound from Randall's reaction save to deny Brennan. But they simply had no answers at the back for the pace of the Brown boys, who continued to tear them to shreds with their sheer pace and they made it six when Callum sent a ball over the top for Declan to run onto, round the keeper and place the ball into the empty net.
Nicholas Morton continued his strong season and was probably his sides best player on the day, picking up a consolation goal four minutes from the end when he drove a low bullet into the bottom corner after some silky play in the build up from Ewan Larby.
The final score was a resounding 6-3 win to the Warriors however, as they completed the double over their modern rivals. South will now need to pick themselves up off the canvas ahead of Wednesday night's Lakoseljac Cup Quarter final rematch with the Kingborough Lions.
Olympia meanwhile will prepare to host Devonport next Saturday, with the Glenorchy Knight's title hopes quite possibly resting in their hands as it appears the toughest of the Strikers next 3 games before their final day clash with the Knights.