Olympia FC Warriors' league lead remains at four points after they were left level in a fiery top of the table encounter with South Hobart at Warrior Park yesterday.

It was a scintillating 1-1 draw that wasn't over until the final whistle. Olympia had the better of the first half and South Hobart the second, albeit the last five minutes where the Warriors charged hard for a winner and were only denied by the excellent glove work of South Hobart’s Kane Pierce. 

Overall 1-1 was a fair reflection of things from an exciting contest at Warrior Park. Both teams could have won it but equally, both teams could have lost it, with both South Hobart and Olympia striking disallowed goals from offside positions in the second half..

It wasn't the best showcase of either team's football prowess with flashes throughout the game of class in an otherwise untidy and fiery affair.

South Hobart had four from last week’s starting 11 missing in action with Hugh Ludford and Alex Walters injured, Cam Rogers ruled out through glandular fever and Dan Brown held back in yellow card danger. Their absence meant that youngsters Connor Schmidt, Oscar Thomas, Chris Downes and Darcy Hall started. Hall and Thomas in particular grabbed their chance with both hands, playing a stellar part in the gripping 1-1 result. Olympia also saw changes to their 11 with Japanese fullback Yusuke Takatsu and Swedish winger Fabian Gustaffson awarded starting spots in place of Harry Woolley and Warren Wadawu. 

Olympia started strongly and put a young South Hobart defence under the pump with considerable territorial advantage early on but it was South Hobart that had the first two real chances of the game. On a counter attack in the seventh minute, stand-in skipper Brayden Mann whipped a delightful cross from the left into the six yard box, it bobbled up on Chris Downes who shinned his shot and had a follow up effort blocked with a timely tackle from Jono Griffiths.

The second chance came in the 18th minute with Mann again involved, he robbed Alex Holmes on the edge of the box and darted in one on one with Spiros Paradisis, Paradisis denied the drive with a magnificent reflex save.

Two minutes later Olympia found the opener they craved through a South Hobart error. Joe Stevens sold Schmidt into trouble with an undershot pass from midfield to defence, Olympia winger Luke Eyles stole the ball ahead of Schmidt and surged off to feed Gavin Hoy. Hoy stepped over and fired at the edge of the box and into the back of the net through the legs of Pierce, giving Olympia a valuable lead over their rivals, a lead they held to the half.

South Hobart emerged from the half energised and took little time to draw themselves level with the league leaders. In the 52nd minute, Chris Hunt hit an inch perfect switch to Hall, he burnt Takatsu and dinked inside for Mann, who steadied and tucked it home into the bottom right to equalise.

In the 70th minute it looked as if Mann had bagged a brace and South Hobart a lead when he latched onto a long Hall through ball and finished off past Paradisis, unfortunately for the visitors the goal was disallowed due to offside, much to the disgust of Mann, who was surprised to see a raised flag.

Wadawu was introduced into the contest and had an impact down the wing, seeing Olympia finish the game off strong with a flurry of shots at Pierce in an effort to find the winner.

It looked as if the Warriors had stolen the result in added time through Eyles. Schmidt coughed up the ball in the South Hobart defence and Eyles streamed away into the box and fired a shot that forced an outstanding save from Pierce, Eyles then finished off with his follow up drive but before Olympia could break into raptures the linesman’s raised flag spoiled the party, with Eyles’ goal ruled offside.

In the last play of the game Olympia had another opportunity with a long bouncing ball out in front of Tsakiris, Pierce beat the striker to it and gathered with outstretched arms to ensure both clubs claimed a point from the top of the table tussle.

Olympia will feel as if it is an opportunity gone begging but a point still sees them in a strong position atop the table, while for South Hobart, they were undermanned but they didn't get outgunned and they will be pleased to hang tight with the Warriors thanks to an important point away from home. It also allowed them to showcase their depth and give some kids an extended run and a couple of them took their chance well to stake a claim for a regular starting berth. 

Olympia Coach Glen McNeill was disappointed his side couldn’t snatch a victory.

“I think all the players are a little downhearted in there and we just didn’t do quite enough to finish the game off,” he said.

“Our finishing at the end just wasn’t up to scratch, again not being able to finish off games but nevertheless it was two teams that had a red-hot go today so it was quite the spectacle.

“It was an opportunity there is no doubt about that, we are not distraught but we still hold status quo at four points, it was certainly an opportunity but there will be others this season.”

South Hobart Coach Ken Morton was proud of the performance from an undermanned South Hobart, believing both side’s could have pinched a result.

“It was a rugged game, there were only little glimpses of quality football from two quality sides. I think both teams were too determined to at least get a point and not lose the game,” he said.

“A little bit disappointed (in the result) but the race is on, we are going to keep Olympia honest and I am sure if it was the other way around that is what they would be doing. We are quite happy with the performance of the team we had out there, patched up."

Morton lauded the efforts of promising young central defender Oscar Thomas.

“He is ready for the step up, he is a super player and good lad and he is comfortable on the ball moving it out defence as well.”

Kingborough await both teams, for South Hobart it is a short turnaround with Ken Morton's men meeting the Lions in the Lakoseljac Cup final on Monday. For Olympia it is onto the next task with the Lions down at the den next weekend.

PS4 VICTORY LEAGUE ROUND 10 RESULTS

Kingborough Lions 2 (Lewis Verdouw 36', Danny Cowen 43') Launceston City 1 (Dom Rossi 11’) HALF TIME 2-1 - 2:00PM/Saturday 6 June 2015 (Lightwood Park, Kingston)

 

 

 

Devonport City Strikers 11 (Michael Holden 2’, 9’, 77’, Brody Denehey 19’, 23’, 49’, 53’, 56’, Bobby Eaves 26', Daniel Syson 59', Beau Blizzard 87') Glenorchy Knights 0 HALF TIME 5-0– 2:00PM/Saturday 6 June 2015 (Valley Road, Devonport)

 

 

 

Olympia FC Warriors 1 (Gavin Hoy 20') South Hobart 1 (Brayden Mann 52’) HALF TIME 1-0 – 3:00PM/Saturday 6 June 2015 (Warrior Park, Warrane)

 

 

Hobart JEEP Zebras 1 (Ethan Engels 90’+2) Northern Rangers 1 (Nick Lanau Atkinson 89’) HALF TIME 0-0 – 4:30PM/Saturday 6 June 2015 (KGV Football Park, Glenorchy)