PlessPix

The Olympia Warriors made it three from three in the Eastern Shore Derby in 2016 in a pulsating game that seemed to combine the story lines from the first two editions of the clash. Like the first clash it was a tense, dramatic 2-1 win to the Warriors, settled by a superb long range winner. Just like the second clash, it was Jacob Leaman who was the difference between the sides, as the young winger capped a classy display with his brilliant hit from range to win a game that came to life in the second half. A seven minute period of action saw a red card and all three goals scored in a thoroughly entertaining match.

The first half was a fairly frenetic affair, with both sides looking to attack in a pretty open game. Olympia had the majority of the possession in the opening 10 minutes but couldn’t create a good chance, Wadawu came close before Dyson did enough to scramble the ball away from a scrap in the box.

Nick Naden had the first real chance of the game as he stormed into the box on a mazy run and tried to chip the ball over Stalker into the far corner of the net, his effort taking a slight touch and going just wide of the mark but it brought the crowd to life for the first time in the game.

Jarrod Bugg was cutting a lively figure, showing a willingness to run at defenders and he came close to opening the scoring when he cut inside and fizzed a powerful shot, trying to beat Stalker high at his near post but the keeper did well to parry it over the top.

The first half produced few genuine chances of note with both defences doing a good job of getting bodies in the way of shots and making last ditch challenges. Olympia would have had more possession but in terms of chances Clarence were perhaps just shading the game.

Jacob Leaman should have sent the Warriors into the sheds 1-0 ahead when he blazed over the top from 12 yards out just before the break, the miss the best chance of the half as Olympia finally found a clear opening, having just lacked that bit of quality in the final third to the halfway mark.

The first chance of the second half fell to Steven Wild, who saw a perfectly placed Randall corner deflect off his head, or perhaps his shoulder and spoon over the top from all off 4 yards out. He wouldn’t have expected the ball to have got through to him past the sea of bodies but it was a prime chance gone begging

His evening went from bad to worse when he was late in on a challenge on 65 minutes and shown a second yellow card. He could have few complaints for receiving the booking but with Hoy, also on a yellow having avoided a card for a similar late challenge moments earlier the Reds probably had some right to feel somewhat aggrieved.

The sending off would prove the game changer as the Warriors took the lead just 2 minutes later, Warren Wadawu poking home from 2 yards out after a scramble in the box and just two minutes after that it was 2-0, when Jacob Leaman smashed home a sublime goal from outside the box. The Warriors who had come out of the sheds the stronger side were looking like sailing off into the distance at this point.

Capping off a crazy seven minute period of action, Nick Naden then offered his side a lifeline in the 72nd minute when he got on the end of Bugg’s long ball, chesting it down and finishing with a well placed shot.

He could have leveled moments  later when presented with a similar chance, but this time he fired straight at the keeper.

The Warriors had multiple moments in the final 15 minutes to ice the game, but a combination of Grant Malcom’s sliding challenges, Mathew Dyson’s alertness in net, then the woodwork, which Will Roberts smashed in the 90th minute with a curling effort conspired to keep Clarence in the contest.

They were nearly made to pay for not icing it, as with the final action of the game Nick Naden hammered a header into the crossbar from a corner, the final whistle blowing immediately afterwards.