The Fire v Olympic game certainly lived up to expectations as the best attack versus the best defence in the NPL.
Coach Kevin A’Herne-Evans said within the first 15 minutes of the game Olympic started challenging the Fire backline. The Fire’s Takanori Sato, Greig Henslee and James Stinson were all forced to make last-ditch tackles to deny the lively Byrne, Smits and Ingham for Olympic.
Goal keeper Antony Hall, recalled for his first game of the season, was tested soon afterwards when a scramble in the 18-yard box lead Olympic to a scuffed attempt at goal.
The Fire continued to weather the storm, looking to gain a foothold in the game. Ironically, this led to Olympic’s first goal as a hopeful kick over the top isolated Sato and Olympic player Ingham in a foot-race. Ingham cut a lethal ball back to the edge of the box, where a superb block from Henslee fell kindly to an Olympic midfielder. His miss-kick wrong-footed Hall and managed to reach the back of the net.
Olympic led 1-0.
After Olympic’s goal, the Fire started to build momentum. A short corner found Dwyer free in the box and after a cool finish it seemed the Fire had levelled the score. However the linesman ruled out the goal with an offside flag.
The score remained 1-0 heading into half-time.
The second-half started at a frantic pace; the Fire was looking more threatening after a few tactical adjustments. On the 60-minute mark the introduction of Wade Zammit paid dividends as he raced on to a defensive header from Olympic to shoot the ball into goal.
The levelled score galvanised the Fire players, who were now looking to use this momentum to bring about another goal. However, as the Fire looked to play out, Olympic player Ingham managed to capitalise on a pass and score to restore Olympic’s lead 2-1.
In the final 15 minutes the Fire went searching for an equalising goal, however Olympic broke from their own half, freeing a player on the right-hand side to launch an unstoppable drive into the far corner of the goal.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Olympic put the icing on the cake with a final goal. A player broke down the left and cut back in to a midfielder, who lined up an ambitious strike into the top-right-hand corner of the net.
The full time score was 4-1 to Olympic.
A’Herne-Evans said he could not fault the Fire players’ effort, commitment and team-work.
“Whilst I have to say Olympic was the better team, it still took a miss-kick, a lapse of concentration and two of the best strikes you will see to beat us.”
