Jets Off To A Flyer
Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez/Moreton Bay United FC
Moreton Bay United have seen out a spirited Olympic FC 3-2 in an attacking close to the opening round at Wolter Park on Sunday night.
Jets trio Jordan Farina, Matthew Zappone and Royce Brownlie did the damage for the hosts, with Olympic’s Tim Smits and Mustafa Jafari chiming in for the visitors.
Jets raced to a two goal advantage inside the opening ten minutes after twice pouncing on saves from Olympic marquee goalkeeper Matt Acton.
Farina was on hand to turn in a save from Zappone’s header for the opener, before Zappone benefitted in similar fashion after Brownlie forced a parried save from the Olympic shot-stopper a minute later.
The visitors fought their way back into the contest as Scott Bow clipped the crossbar with a strike before Danny Byrne sent his shot fizzing past the post shortly after.
Olympic striker Smits then halved the margin minutes later, delivering a trademark headed finish from Matt Mundy’s cross.
Byrne again came close from a free-kick after the restart but clear-chances continued to prove elusive as the contest intensified.
With fifteen minutes remaining Brownlie benefitted from a neat pass from Charles Mendy, staying just onside to get in behind the line, beating Acton to finish into an empty net.
Young Olympic attacking talent Jafari replied with a spectacular, left-footed volley to set-up a grand stand finish between two of the league’s most attacking teams.
However, the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2014 Grand Finalists proved unable to find an equaliser in the final minutes.
Speaking after the match, Jet’s coach Adam Piddick said he was happy to get his first three points with his new club.
“We’ve worked all pre-season for this and its worked out fantastic and now we’re off to the next one,” he concluded.
Olympic coach Jim Bellas lamented his side’s slow start but couldn’t fault his players for their efforts.
“They started off with a little more intensity than us. If you don’t match the intensity with the opposition you fall behind the eight-ball,” he said.
Moreton Bay United FC 3 (Jordan FARINA 7’, Matthew ZAPPONE 8’, Royce BROWNLIE 77’)
Olympic FC 2 (Tim SMITS 33’, Mustafa JAFARI 84’)
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