By Mitchell Keenan

Gungahlin United came from behind on Sunday to claim a thrilling 3-2 win over Canberra Olympic thanks to a hat-trick from forward Amy Lawrence.

The game began at a high intensity, with Olympic crafting a great chance in the first minute that Natt McCann put just wide, and Gungahlin replying a minute later through Lawrence, who saw her effort hit the Olympic woodwork.

After another good chance from Lawrence, it would be Olympic who would take an early lead after a speedy counter attack down the middle was finished off by a well-weighted chip from McCann after 10 minutes.

Gungahlin would continue to put the pressure on the home side, working the ball with in the front third, and the visitors would level proceedings with a counter of their own to be finished off by Lawrence in the middle of the box after 20 minutes.

Lawrence would continue to dominate the Olympic backline, but the speedy forward was missing the final touch after spurning a number of chances to put her side ahead late in the 1^st half.

Gungahlin continued to play a high pressing game in the 2^nd half, and Olympic were saved by a sharp Kailey Tonini in goals, who tipped Lawrence’s close range effort onto the frame of the goal after 54 minutes.

Olympic would not look to settle for a draw though, and the home side continued to try and catch Gungahlin out on the break, doing just that in the 63^rd minute as Kiara Gaspari found space outside the box and fired in a powerful effort beating Sophie Rolfe just under the bar.

After going behind a second time, Gungahlin saw a newfound sense of urgency to get back into the game, and the visitors were unlucky not to go level in the 73^rd minute, striking the post twice in a matter of moments. It was Lawrence popping up again in the 77^th minute, who found herself all alone against Tonini to coolly slot home an equaliser.

A resilient Olympic side looked determined to hold out for the draw, but the home side could do nothing when Lawrence burst through the defensive line and bundled the ball past Tonini to complete her hat-trick and to hand her side the match-winning goal in the 84^th minute.

After one of their best performances this season, an ever-improving Canberra Olympic will find it tough to challenge league leaders Belconnen United next weekend, while Gungahlin United will look to carry their winning streak on to 4 against an unpredictable Tuggeranong United next weekend.