Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Patrick Kearney/Olympic FC

Olympic FC shored up their top four spot with an untroubled 4-1 win over Brisbane Roar Youth at Goodwin Park on Sunday.

Two goals in either half reversed the scoreline of the two teams’ earlier meeting this season, helping the hosts go three points clear of fourth-placed Redlands United.

Defeat marks a significant turnaround from Young Roar’s most recent win over Moreton Bay United, the kind of form they will aim to recapture with five matches remaining.

Olympic sought to start on a positive note following a last-start loss to Brisbane Strikers and secured the lead inside four minutes when central-defender Matt Byrne headed home from a corner.

It was 2-0 moments later as midfielder Michael Lee clinically netted his eight of the campaign to set the hosts on their way.

Young Roar came close to cutting the margin before the break but Sam Sibatuara was unable to steer Dane Ingham’s whipped cross on target.

Having held out for the remainder of the half, the visitors fell further behind immediately after the restart as Lee strode through on goal and saw his attempted pass bundled in for an own goal.

Olympic looked in the mood and were only denied a fourth by Young Roar ‘keeper Denver Crickmore, who smothered Danny Byrne’s finish after the attacker lost his marker with a classy stepover.

The match entered a lull for much of the second half until a penalty allowed the visitors hope of a comeback with Conor O’Neill converting into the bottom corner.

Any belief was soon extinguished though as substitute Youeil Shol netted his first senior goal three minutes later, latching onto Tim Smits’ flick and finishing coolly to complete scoring at 4-1.

Speaking after the match, young attacker Shol attributed his first PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland senior goal to work on the paddock.

“I’m stoked. I’ve been working hard at training and I’m just happy that’s paid off,” he said.

Young Roar coach John Sime said he expected better from his more experienced players.

“The first three goals were just individual mistakes and at this level you can’t do that. It was disgraceful, I was very disappointed,” Sime said.

Olympic FC 4 (Matt BYRNE 4’ Michael LEE 8’ OWN GOAL 47’ Youeil SHOL 84’)
Brisbane Roar FC Youth 1 (Conor O’NEILL p.81’)