Newcastle Olympic came away from Edgeworth Eagles with an expected win in Reserve Grade and a loss in First Grade. The scenario prior to both matches was played out exactly as predicted by the end of Round 9 at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Saturday afternoon.
On a slippery and heavy surface at Jack Mclaughlin, league leaders Newcastle Olympic took on 9th placed Edgeworth Eagles and dominated throughout the match. They had the lion’s share of goalscoring opportunities but poor finishing caused the match to end only by 3-1!
Olympic played with a midfield trio of Steinerts, Petersen and Tsamouras that was creative when in possession and compact and competitive for every ball, when not in possession! Edgeworth could only attempt to play forward through the flanks where an equally compact and solid Olympic defense awaited them. The 10-2 ratio of shots on goal by Olympic at the end of the first half told the story.
Olympic opened the score in the 18th minute with a great solo run by Jesse Fitzgerald who dribbled past everyone to score in an empty net. Charlie Halls came close to adding to the score with one shot that came off the cross bar and another one-on-one effort with the keeper to beat that was fired into his arms!
Callan Priestley made it 2-0 in the 51st minute during a skirmish inside the Eagles goalmouth, after a corner, and another routine win was on its way. Despite dominating possession and goal scoring opportunities, Olympic received an awakening that the match wasn’t over in the 62’ minute when Edgeworth scored through a long ball on the right flank that found the Olympic defense momentarily flatfooted.
Olympic continued to pepper the Edgeworth goal. Steven Theacos saw a header from a well taken free kick by George Tsamouras cannon off the woodwork. The goal scoring opportunities continued, as did the poor finishing. In the 78th minute Toby Gallagher put the game beyond the reach of the local team with a header from a well taken corner.
Despite Olympics’ domination of possession, Edgeworth proved a worthy opponent and the game was an entertaining affair.
First Grade Newcastle Olympic entered this match against the only undefeated team of the competition with the best attack and best defense in the league! The difference between the two teams was that Edgeworth played as such compared to an Olympic side that had the desire to win but perhaps not the belief!
Both teams began well, playing entertaining football until an underweighted pass in defense allowed Edgeworth to intercept and score a goal that Olympic provided in a gift box with wrapping paper!
The reaction to this from Olympic was a nervous defense which made one mistake after another. This wasn’t helped by an Edgeworth team that pressed all over the park and committed very few mistakes in their play.
Despite this, Olympic came close to equalizing in the 27th minute when a good combination between Roy O’Donovan and Jared Muller resulted in a shot by the later which came off the Edgeworth woodwork! From the ensuing goal kick and what appeared like a harmless move from the right, the Olympic defense was caught ball watching and Aaron Oppedisano was allowed to dribble across the face of the Olympic box without a challenge and a defense splitting pass to Ryan Feutz made the score 2-0 for the home side.
With a mountain to climb Olympic went forward in search of a goal but despite enjoying the best part of possession until the end of the half, Edgeworth defended in numbers, played possession football and didn’t allow their opponent even a sniff of an opportunity for goal!
The second half continued in the same tempo with Olympic trying to create an opening and Edgeworth keeping the door shut and looking for the quick counter which would put the game beyond reach.
In the 72nd minute a routine corner from Edgeworth and a clearing header by Olympic landed the ball at the feet of an Edgeworth player who could not believe his luck and who had little difficulty firing the ball into the net to record 3-0 for the home side.
With a mountain to climb Olympic continued trying until the final whistle but it was too little too late.
Source: Tom Tsamouras
George Tsamouras Football Journey 