In his first start back from injury, Rhys Cooper returned to the scoresheet at Darling Street Oval in Hamilton’s 3-0 demolition of Adamstown.
Reeling from the sacking of former coach Peter McGuinness during the week the Rosebud’s struggled against an Olympic side inspired to end their coach Michael Bolch’s final season at the club on a high.
Cooper opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after the intricate build up from Olympic. Andrew Swan played in his brother Matt down the left edge who squared to Cooper. Cooper rushed into the box and hit his shot first time, into the right post and the ball deflected in to make it 1-0.
Just two minutes later and Olympic were up by two. Cooper turned provider on this occasion curling in a cross from the right onto the head of Smith who made no mistake from point blank range.
Hamilton took their 2-0 advantage into the sheds and pushed on in the second half through Smith. The build-up was brilliant once more as Tom Davies crossed in from the right edge to Sean Pratt.
Pratt squared to ball back to Tommy Spencer, who chipped over the top to Kane Goodchild. Goodchild was tackled by Rosebud defender Alex Read, however, the ball sat up for Smith who powered home from close range.
The win moves Olympic to within five points of top spot and keeps them in fourth on the ladder.
Olympic coach Mick Bolch felt two of his returning stars were crucial to the win.
“We played some good stuff today and knocked the ball around really well.
“We got into some good areas and Coops made a difference, scored the first, set up the second, but even having Andrew Swan back at left fullback, he and his brother engineered the first goal down the left-hand side.”
With Olympic now having a three-week layoff before their next match, Bolch says how they return will be crucial to their finals aspirations.
In his first match in charge of the Rosebuds caretaker coach Nick Webb said the result “was a bit of a learning curve.”
“Overall, it was a little disappointing, but obviously, there is a bit of work to do.”
After only taking his first training session on Friday it would a very short build-up for Webb who admitted there wasn’t a lot he could change in the short period.
“I just wanted to have a look at them [on Friday]. We had a bit of a game against the 20s so we could see some shape and set up how I wanted to set up in defence, which wasn’t far off how they have played this year. I didn’t want to do too much with them.”
Webb will get two weeks to work with his squad before their next match against Edgeworth, while Olympic has a three-week break before they next play in the PS4 NPL, against Maitland.
source: sportstg.com
Under 20s Olympic won 2-1
Under 18s Olympic won 3-1
NPL Youth
Olympic vs Adamstown
Under 16s drew 1-1
Under 15s Olympic won 3-0
Under 14s drew 3-3
Under 13s Olympic won 4-2
Zone League 2
Olympic vs New Lambton
1st Grade New Lambton won 0-1
2nd Grade Olympic won 1-0
NET results
Under 10s Olympic drew with Jaffas 2-2
Under 11s Olympic defeated by Jaffas 2-3
Under 12s Olympic defeated Magic 3-0
Olympic Junior Results
Under 16a Olympic defeated New Lambton 1-0
Under 15a Olympic defeated Jaffas 4-2
Under 13a Olympic defeated by Maitland 1-2
Under 12b Olympic defeated South Wallsend 2-1
Under 9/1 Olympic defeated Lambton
Under 9/2 Olympic defeated by New Lambton
Under 8/1 Olympic defeated South Wallsend
Under 8/2 Olympic defeated New Lambton
Under 7/1 Olympic defeated South Wallsend
Under 6/1 Olympic drew with Mayfield
Under 6/2 Opposition forfeited
Under 6/3 Olympic defeated Newcastle Grammer
Source:Tom Tsamouras
George Tsamouras Football Journey 