Credit Walter Pless
It was a cold night at Warrior Park but Olympia FC Warriors made it two wins from two on Friday night after defeating Kingborough Lions 3-1 in the continuing Round 1 of the NPL TAS Summer Cup. One of Olympia’s newest signings in the off-season Ben Hamlett lead the home side to victory with a goal in each half of the match.
Lions keeper Lee Mackie nearly conceded a goal in the opening minutes when Hamlett lobbed a ball over his head. Kingborough’s CB Danny Cowen got on his bike and cleared the ball off the line.
Olympia’s Warren Wadawu was gifted a set-piece opportunity just outside the box in the 20th minute after a foul was committed by an opposition player.
Wadawu’s delivery found Hamlett in the box who finished with a good header to make the score 1-0 Olympia’s way.
It may only be pre-season but Referee Brenton Kopra still had to give some cautions. Lion’s newest signing Luke Bighan and Olympia’s Joseph Juma both received yellow’s in the first half.
After much pressure and settling their way back into the game Kingborough scored through Spanish import Javi Verdu Sanchez. Sanchez weaved around traffic and shot on a tight angle with a good finish past Warrior’s keeper Darby Randall.
Returning UK Import Jack Ryan quickly erased any hope of a Lions comeback merely minutes later. One on one with the keeper and lobbed the ball over Mackie’s head to make it 2-1 before half-time.
Ryan almost had a brace when his effort thunder-bolted off the cross bar in the second half but somehow it stayed out and rebounded back into play.
Kingborough did apply good pressure throughout the half especially from new signing Moses Khasif and returning lion Vincent Turner who both looked very dangerous going forward.
Hamlett sealed the win in the 89th minute with a long range rocket into the top corner which sent the home fans into great joy.
The current standings see Olympia top of the table with 6 points after their win.
Olympia will now have a bye weekend as they look to their next home game against South Hobart in a midweek clash February 19th.
Kingborough on the other hand will play Glenorchy Knights next Thursday night at KGV Park, Glenorchy.
