The Olympia Warriors exploded into life in the second half and ran up the score on the languishing Clarence United, running out 8-1 victors. After the game was all square at the break, a dominant second half saw the Warriors scoring 7 times and heaping more misery on the struggling Clarence.

The first half gave little clue this was to come, Gordy Gurson had opened the scoring for Olympia, but despite controlling the bulk of the possession they found themselves pegged back by Jake Stuart. With the score 1-1 at halftime, the game was there for the taking, and Olympia certainly seized that.

Second halves have been a strong point for Olympia in recent weeks and they turned it on in the second half, putting Clarence to the sword in the process. Eduardo Castaneda was the fire starter, as he set up Joffrey N’Koso for the go-ahead goal.

Castaneda then added a pair of goals himself, the second a superb curling effort from the top of the box, but the amount of time had to fire it off was emblematic of the way Clarence defended throughout the contest.

Jake Vandermey’s cracking left footed volley made it 5-1 in style before Gurson raced in behind the lines to make it six.

It got worse still, as a ball that either saw Gurson head home from close range or an own goal against Sam Reibel made it 7, before Vandermey fired truly from the penalty spot to end the bleeding at 8-1.

Clarence have now conceded 17 goals in two games and must be hoping that this is their nadir. After 2 and 2/3’s years in the NPL the side is trending drastically in the wrong direction and this has been a year that has represented a clear step backwards.

Olympia are a side who have yet to take a point from 4 sides above them on the table yet were made to look like 1970’s Brazil, such was the time and space they were consistently afforded on the ball. As the final round of fixtures begins, Clarence has 7 games to get back on track, because at the moment, they don’t look a side capable of challenging anyone.