Red Rivals Share Points
Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Patrick Kearney/Olympic FC
Olympic FC and Redlands United remain winless for the season despite fighting out a 1-1 draw at Goodwin Park on Sunday evening.
Goals in either half ensured the points were shared between two sides as they both recorded a second point of the campaign.
Olympic midfielder Michael Lee almost opened the scoring early against his former side but had a low shot well saved by Brendan White.
Lee didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring though, getting on the end of a flowing team move to tuck home at the far post in the 13th minute.
The hosts continued to press throughout the first half and might have had a second around the half hour when Mark Fisk hit the post from a set piece, before Tim Smits fired over the follow-up.
The Red Devils held on to half time and tightened up after the restart with both defences winning out.
Graham Fyfe’s side were rewarded for laying the platform in the 61st minute as an Igor Sao Jose pass unlocked Olympic’s defence, freeing Mitchell Bird through the middle to beat the onrushing Matt Acton and apply the finish.
Matt Mundy was soon needed to snuff a counter-attack as the visitors gained in confidence, while Danny Byrne shot into the sidenetting at the other end.
Olympic wrestled back the initiative in the final 10 minutes and came close to a winner through Byrne and Rhys Meredith but were unable to break the deadlock.
The draw means both teams sit equal on two points from their opening three matches of the season.
Speaking after the match, Olympic captain Danny Byrne felt his side could have killed off the match earlier.
“With numerous chances we should have at least got another one,” Byrne said.
Meanwhile, The Red Devils’ technical director Matt Chandler praised the away side’s second half turnaround.
“Second half we were really good, I thought we showed a lot of character tonight,” Chandler said.
Listen to the full post-match interviews below.
Olympic FC 1 (Michael LEE 13’)
Redlands United FC 1 (Mitchell BIRD 61’)
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