Words: Sam Flanagan & Michael Flynn
Images: Patrick Kearney

Olympic FC will not compete in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals for the first time after suffering a shock 3-2 loss to Western Pride.

The hosts required a five-goal win to claim fourth spot on the ladder and made the perfect start when skipper Daniel Byrne opened accounts inside five minutes.

However, Pride responded with three goals prior to the break via Joseph Duckworth, Shaun Core and Jacob Minnett before Olympic were reduced to ten men following a second booking for James Cuminao.

Linden Farr’s maiden PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal halved the deficit in the second stanza, but ultimately proved unable to overcome their numerical disadvantage.

The loss consigns Olympic to a sixth place finish – their lowest in the competition’s four-year history, but a remarkable turnaround after sitting second from last midway through the season.

Pride’s third straight win concludes a season-best run to close out the season in tenth for the Ipswich club.

Key Moments

5’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Kazuya Ito is brought down on the edge of the area before captain Daniel Byrne steps up to curl a magical free kick over the wall and just inside the near post

10’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Samuel Fitzgerald takes possession in midfield and immediately arrows a shot from 16 yards but it bends into the side netting

11’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – A calamitous mix up at the back between Kristen Waters and goalkeeper Nicholas Mooney on the edge of the penalty area sees Joseph Duckworth streak through for a tap in

20’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – A corner finds its way out to Shaun Core who lashes a volley through a pile of bodies to find the bottom corner.

45+1’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Mitchell Bird touches on a lobbed through ball to Jacob Minett and the midfielder stunningly bends an effort into the top corner from 20 yards

45 + 2’ – RED CARD FOR OLYMPIC – The referee deems that James Cuminao collects more of Bird than the ball and shows the Olympic left back his second yellow and he is dismissed from the contest

62’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Substitute Olympic goalkeeper Dakota Sprange races out of his area and clears the ball but it lands at the feet of Duckworth, with the midfielder launching a shot at an open goal from long range that sails over the bar

65’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Fitzgerald finds open pasture down the right before delivering a wicked ball for Bonventure Thomas-Remijo at the back post but the shot is saved by Sprange

69’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Byrne delivers a ball from out wide to Linden Farr, who is able to smash home his debut PS4 NPL goal from point blank range

90+1’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC – Byrne nudges a deft back heel through for Ito who slides his shot home from close range but is ruled offside

What They Said

“We were good in patches and we capitalised on our chances when we were good. I was a little bit disappointed with the second half and not being able to take advantage of the ten men. But the positive result against a finals hopeful just shows the hard work of the young squad we’ve got,” – Graham Harvey, Western Pride FC coach

“I thought we worked extremely hard and we threw the game away ourselves. We set out this week and last to score goals and to not play defensively but unfortunately it just didn’t go our way.” – Terry Kirkham, Olympic FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 22

Sunday, August 21
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

Olympic FC - 2 (Daniel BYRNE 5’, Linden FARR 69’)
Western Pride FC - 3 (Joseph DUCKWORTH 11’, Shaun CORE 20’, Jacob MINETT 45+1’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bC6roc

Match Officials - Zac Keenan (referee), Justin Temple (assistant), Joey Lee (assistant), Brad Burton (fourth)