Olympic FC have recorded their first away win of the NPL Queensland season following a comprehensive 6-2 win over a ten man South West Queensland Thunder at Clive Berghofer Stadium on Saturday evening.

Jake McLean and Reuben Way both netted doubles for Olympic, with Terry Hughes and Luke Howell rounding out the visitor’s six goal haul.

Ryan Ensor and Anthony Grant scored a goal apiece for the Thunder in their first home match of the season.

Despite their relative inexperience against the defending champions, Thunder held on valiantly for much of the first half with the scores locked at 1-1 after forty minutes before Olympic’s quality told against the young Thunder side.

Jake McLean opened accounts for Olympic when he finished off a neat passing movement 19 minutes in, unleashing a solid strike past Thunder goalkeeper Stuart Campbell.

Campbell kept Thunder in touch with a sharp penalty save before Ensor levelled terms following a strong solo run down the left wing on the half hour.

Hughes benefitted from a long ball to edge Olympic back in front on 42 minutes which also saw Jack Percy red-carded for dissent after none-too-subtly questioning the decision of referee Michael Bozhoff in the build-up.

Olympic took full advantage of the extra man as McLean scored again a minute later courtesy of a swift counter attack.

Thunder held strong following the restart by throwing their lesser numbers behind the ball and attempting to compete on the counter attack.

It would only be a matter of time before the defending champions made their advantage tell further, however – Way scoring his first of the evening on the hour from the top of the box courtesy of a well-worked set-piece.

Howell headed home neatly into the lower corner of the goal five minutes later to further extend the advantage, before Way secured his brace shortly following a scramble inside the penalty area.

Despite the result being beyond doubt, Thunder didn’t drop their heads and earned their reward with seven minutes remaining when Grant showed good control to outwit two Olympic defenders before slotting home a consolation goal.

South-West Queensland Thunder 2 (Ryan ENSOR 30’, Anthony GRANT 83’)
Olympic FC 6 (Jake MCLEAN 19’ 43’, Terry HUGHES 42’, Reuben WAY 60’ 68’, Luke HOWELL 65’)