Mick Holt and Nathan Morris both stood over a free kick 30mts from the Olympic goal. Olympic parked their entire team behind the ball and expected Nathan Morris to smash his trade mark rocket free kick but it was Holt who pulled the trigger towards goal. Holt's shot looked to be one that the Olympic keeper and ex Bear Ben Kelly would handle with ease but instead of securing the ball, Kelly gave the NBN Camera man at the ground some footage for the local news that will no doubt make the blooper of the year as the ball bounced through his legs and into the net for the Bears to take the lead 1-0.
After scoring the opener Mick Holt was looking for another and he did just that when he latched onto a loose ball from the edge of the 18 yard box in the 41st min and hammered his shot into the bottom left hand corner of the Olympic goal to give the Bears a very handy 2-0 lead at the Break.
The Bears now not only had a 2 goal lead but they also had the benefit of having the very strong wind at their backs for the 2nd half. The advantage the Bears enjoyed should have been cut in half when Olympic had an attempt on goal that was wide of the mark in the 53rd min.
Rob Macbeth and Jamie Subat combined brilliantly 2 mins later when Macbeth out muscled the defence and played a fantastic ball to put Subat on goal. Subat hit his shot goal bound which drew a great save that squeezed the ball out for a corner.
Olympic Keeper Ben Kelly was having a day to forget and with the vocal members stand reminding him of his earlier mistake he made another and botched up a pass that saw Mick Ryan pounce and place the ball past Kelly and into the net for a handy 3-0 lead after 59 minutes.
Olympic should have hit straight back 3 mins later when they had a free header that failed to test Bears keeper Tim Pratt.
Jamie Subat was the next to have an opportunity on goal when he was in on a 1 on 1 with Kelly in the 65th min but this time Kelly stood tall and ensured the Bears lead remained at 3-0.
Olympic started to look better and they gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they pulled a goal back in the 77th min to make the score 3-1.
The Bears hit the attack straight from the restart and somehow failed to score in what was a comedy of errors. The chance came from some strong work by Subat who played a low ball across the face of goal that drew air swings from both the attackers and defence before rolling slowly only millimetres past the far post of the Olympic goal.
Olympic were starting to get into the match more and looking dangerous. This led to a chance that they should have converted in the 81st min but luckily for the Bears the chance didn't amount to a goal and the lead remained at 3-1.
Corey Fletcher had the last opportunity of the match but he was unable to convert and the Bears held on for the an important 3 points that ensures they hold onto top spot of the State League.
U/23's was the usual story of the game that got away when they lost 1-2. Joel Page was a stand out for the Bears and scored a fantastic goal. Unfortunately it was the missed chances including one that was in front of an open goal that cost the side the points.
U/18's went down 0-1, they also could have taken the points if not for some poor finishing.
Next week the Bears are again at Thomas and Coffey Park against South Cardiff. Southy defeated the Bears 0-1 last time they met at South Cardiff but it was also one of the Bears worst performances of the season. A win will see the Bears a step closer to securing their first premiership since 2004.
C'MON YOU BEARS!!!!!!!
