The Olympia FC Warriors have moved into second on the NPL table with a 2-0 win over the Devonport Strikers at Valley Road. An early goal from Jakub Sklenar, who would concerningly limp off injured shortly afterwards, and a contentious penalty converted by James McCarthy was enough to see the Warriors home.

The Strikers were not without their chances but some outstanding goalkeeping from Jakob Cole frustrated the hosts. Red cards to Raph Reynolds and Brayden Mann for second yellows further soured the day for the Strikers, as their title hopes were seemingly extinguished. It means South Hobart can now all but wrap up the title tomorrow with a chance to move 10 points clear with just 4 rounds remaining if they can defeat Northern Rangers.

After a cagey opening to the game, Harrison Wicks had the first clear cut chance to open the scoring but his low drive was denied by a sharp save from Jakob Cole, the first of a number of key stops he would make.

Olympia would then convert their first chance of the game through the clinical Czech striker, Jakub Sklenar. From the right hand side of the box he placed a low daisy cutter across the face that bounced off the left hand upright and into the back of the net. It would be his only meaningful involvement for the day when he was forced to limp off injured on the half hour mark with an ankle injury that surely puts his participation in the FFA Cup in serious jeopardy.

Devonport somehow failed to equalise five minutes after going down when a fumbled corner from Cole, pin-balled around the box before eventually being cleared off the line by Paul Stevens.

Olympia started to get on top as the half wore on and they fired off a couple of shots from range but struggled to break through the organised Devonport defence. At the other end, the in form Michael Holden was makings things happen and Wicks was looking lively but despite ending the final 15 minutes of the half with more of the ball in advanced areas, it was shaping as a game were chances would be at a premium,

They began the second half in the same fashion and on the hour mark they came close when Eddie Bidwell, who had a strong game down the right, sent in a cross-come shot that Cole did superbly to claw out of the top corner as he thrust himself backwards. He made another superb save on 70 minutes at full stretch to keep out Holden as he drove one across the face of goal.

But just as it seemed the Strikers were going to get back on terms, their task was made harder when Raphael Reynolds was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a late sliding challenge on Cartwright.

Minutes later the hill became a mountain as a rather soft penalty was awarded to the Warriors, when Andrews got in Sammut’s back, who hit the deck to give James McCarthy the chance to step up and settle the contest. He duly did, with a decisive hit to make it 2-0.

There was still more drama when Strikers captain, Brayden Mann was also shown a second yellow card leaving the hosts down to 9 men for the final minutes of the game. It had been a bruising and physical battle throughout the game and tensions were boiling over before full time.

Kenny Weston then became the third send off, as he was given his marching orders following vociferous exchange with Chris Gallo in stoppage time. There was no ill feeling between the coaches with Gallo describing it post game as a “lovers tiff.”

There was no further scoring action however and the game ended 2-0 in Olympia’s favour, propelling them to second on the NPL table heading into the final month of the season.