Olympia overcome Olympic in meaningless encounter

Photo:  Olympia's Lufti Baddiley shuts down an Olympic opponent. [PlessPix]  

(NPL Tasmania, Empire Couriers Park, Saturday, 25 June 2022)

Olympia Warriors 4 (Barrett 35, Holmes 45, Pickup 63, 71)

Riverside Olympic 0

HT:  2-0   Att:  90   Ref:  Z Van Toor

Olympia Warriors:  Stalker;  Allan, L Baddiley, Barrett, Cummins, Holmes, Mamic, Pickup, Sammut, Sloan, Vivarelli  [Subs:  F Baddiley, Houston, McGuinness (GK), Schwarz, Vandermey]

Riverside Olympic:  Johnson;  Carter, Coert, Fenner, Humphrey, Poulson, W Prince, Z Reissig, Shaw, Sykes, Rutabayiro  [Sub:  Harrop]

Photo:  Olympia's Brayton Allan clears with a diving header. [PlessPix]  

When a visiting team from the north has only one substitute, it’s a clear sign that things are not right.

Riverside had just the one spare when they came to Empire Couriers Park on Saturday night for the Olympia versus Olympic NPL Tasmania clash.

They were no match for the home side and when they found themselves 2-0 down at half-time, there were few options to turn things around.

It was one-way traffic most of the time and Warriors goalkeeper Mitch Stalker will seldom have such an easy time.

Photo:  Olympia midfielder Simon Vivarelli gets a pass away. [PlessPix]  

Tyson Barrett gave Olympia the lead in the 35^th minute, while the tall Alex Holmes slid home the second in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Adam Pickup headed the third and within minutes killed off Riverside with Olympia’s fourth.

Olympia could afford to bring on the unfit Jake Vandermey for the second half as they completely controlled the proceedings, orchestrated by the mobile conductor, Joel Sammut.

Photo:  Olympia's Simon Vivarelli in pursuit of an Olympic opponent. [PlessPix]  

There was hardly any excitement in this bottom-of-the-table encounter and Riverside Olympic are condemned to the wooden spoon yet again, while the Warriors are unlikely to improve on their second-last position.

The sooner promotion and relegation in some form is introduced, the sooner the NPL will be sparked back into some semblance of life.  Surely it cannot go on as it is.

Photo:  Olympia's Jake Vandermey (right) warms up at half-time.  Far from fully fit, Vandermey played in the second half. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Olympia's Brayton Allan (left) and Alex Holmes in earnest discussion as they come in at half-time. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Olympia assistant coach Nick Di Martino takes one of his players under his wing. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Olympia coach Rob Clarke has words of encouragement to one of his injured absentees. [PlessPix]
 

Photo:  Olympia's Adam Pickup is scoring goals regularly for his club. [PlessPix]