Warriors through to first-round proper of Lakoseljac Cup after win over University

Photo:  University keeper Benjamin Farrell is beaten by Joel Sammut's free-kick. [PlessPix]  

Olympia Warriors qualified for the first-round proper of the Lakoseljac Cup when they beat University 3-1 at Warrior Park tonight.

Two goals by Joel Sammut and one by Tyson Barrett did the damage.

Callum Brown replied for University.

Sammut was in excellent form.  Apart from scoring twice, he provided the cross from which Barrett headed home.

Photo:  Olympia's Joel Sammut (left) eludes University's Aaron Marney. [PlessPix] 

Olympia started strongly and Lachlan Burt forced a fine save from the University keeper in the 6^th minute.

The Warriors took the lead in the 13^th minute when Sammut fired home a free-kick from 25 metres.

Burt went off with a groin strain after 18 minutes, but it did not stop Olympia from piling on the pressure and Anthony Mamic almost increased the home side’s lead a minute later, but his shot went narrowly wide of the far left-hand post.

A minute later, Sammut crossed from the left and Barrett outjumped the University keeper, Ben Farrell, and headed the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

Photo:  Tyson Barrett heads home Olympia's second goal. [PlessPix] 

It was turning into a tough, physical game and University’s Toby MacGregor was booked midway through the opening half for a foul on Mamic.

University managed a few counter-attacks and George Ivanov fired wide from one of these in the 31^st minute.

They were rewarded in the 38^th minute when Declan Brown rifled home a low shot from just outside the box to make it one goal the difference at the interval.

Olympia continued where they left off in the second half and Sammut was unlucky on the hour when his low drive grazed the outside of the right-hand post.

Photo: Joel Sammut is congratulated by his Olympia team-mates. [PlessPix]

Three minutes later, Ivanov should have done better for University when presented with a chance, but he side-footed the ball high over the bar.

In the 70^th minute, Barrett sent over a cross from the left, but Brayton Allan couldn’t quite connect firmly and headed high and wide.

University stuck to the task and mounted some dangerous attacks and Aaron Marney got onto a right-wing cross from Jeremy Goddard in the 70^th minute, but his fine effort hit the far right-hand post and rebounded into play.

The Warriors hit back immediately and James Ackerley should have done better than shoot wide when he had time and space on the right of the box.

Photo:  Olympia's Anthony Mamic (left) under pressure from University's Toby MacGregor. [PlessPix] 

Barrett got onto the end of a long clearance from his goalkeeper in the 75^th minute, but he could only put the ball high over the bar.

He was given another glorious chance 4 minutes later when he again got onto the long clearance from his keeper, Connor McGuinness, but, with only the keeper to beat, he shot straight at Farrell.

Eight minutes from the end, Olympia’s Matthew Cure, who had a strong game in midfield, sent a shot high over the bar.

In the 84^th minute, the lively James Ackerley sent in a strong low cross from the right, but everyone missed it and University were let off the hook.

Photo:  University's Aaron Marney in a contest with Olympia's Harkirat Singh. [PlessPix] 

A minute later, Marney was presented with an opening inside the box, but McGuinness produced an excellent diving save to deny him.

Olympia substitute Ryan Amani spurned the chance to make the game safe when he placed his shot wide of the left-hand post in the last minute when he was clean through on goal.

In the 2^nd minute of stoppage time, Olympia’s Jacob Calvert was desperately unlucky not to score when his free-kick struck a post.

Sammut made the game safe in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time when  he grabbed a third goal for Olympia to kill off the contest.  University cleared, but the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line before being cleared.

On the chances, Olympia deserved to win, but University will be ruing some of their missed opportunities.

Photo:  University defenders clear the danger. [PlessPix]