Words: Matt Dorman, Olympic FC
Image: Alannah Pearson, Olympic FC

A Reuben Way hat-trick has fired Olympic FC back to form on Tuesday night as the defending champions comfortably saw off Western Pride 3-0 at Goodwin Park.

The treble banished a three-match winless streak for Olympic, who led 1-0 at the break before Way added his eighth and ninth goals of an already productive campaign in the second half.

The forward was first from either side to get a shot on goal when his 13th minute dribble down the left flank resulted in a near-post save by Pride ‘keeper Andres Pascoe.

An even better chance was presented to the visitors six minutes later though when a turnover on halfway left Olympic exposed at the back.

Peter Drager was released in on goal but, as he shaped to shoot, Olympic’s Terry Hughes came from nowhere to slide the ball away with a perfect tackle at the critical time.

Hughes’ fellow midfielder Jake McLean next created a chance for teammate Danny Byrne which the attacker skied over the crossbar, before the captain then snatched at another opening just after the half hour.

However, Olympic’s territory paid off before half time as a Pride defender slipped deep in his own half, allowing Way to gather possession.

The prolific goal scorer lost a couple of defenders on the turn which made enough space to produce a clever finish through Pascoe’s legs, handing the hosts the relief of a 1-0 lead.

It was almost 2-0 within moments of the restart as Hughes guided a quickly-taken free-kick inches wide of the upright which, given the referee’s awarding of a goal kick, would have been legal.

Drager had a good chance for an equaliser in the 55th minute when he again spearheaded a charge behind enemy lines only to spoil what might have been a true on-one-on when he overcooked his touch in trying to knock the ball past young Olympic ‘keeper Brandon Cuminao.

Tim Smits, who returned to the side after missing two matches with injury, nearly put the home side further ahead shortly after that chance when his back-post header was saved well by Pascoe, but in the 66th minute Way did improve the advantage.

An overload was created on the left flank which allowed the former Redlands United man space to close in on goal and drive a left-footed finish across Pascoe with aplomb.

An undermanned Western Pride were unable to launch a comeback and repeat last term’s upset efforts against Olympic, instead conceding a third in stoppage time.

Hughes picked out Kazuya Ito’s run behind a static defence with a lovely lofted pass, from where the Japanese defender squared a pass for Way to arrive and slide in an important hat-trick.

Olympic will be the happier of the two entering the Easter break having rediscovered winning form in the rescheduled round five match, while Western Pride remain without a league point this season.

Olympic FC 3 (Reuben WAY 42′, 67', 90')
Western Pride 0