It was their 4th meeting of the season with Blackburn United Reserves and Olymic just managed to put a side together after 6 first team members were unavailable for selection.
Ian Hartley was signed on at the last minute from Mill Hill and he partnered Alan Heaton upfront. Will Sharples & Pat Box were handed rare starts and Carl Black took over the captains armband as Poddy was unwell.
Olympic started the game well and although they had not one 1st team striker available were asking questions of the opposition defence. Following last weeks awful display against the same side, a few words of wisdom from the Gaffa before the game did wonders for Olympics confidence and it showed. Every single player was up for it and the opposition wondered what had happened to the side they beat last week.
Despite Olympics dominance the first half ended goal-less and Easty was finally able to digest the sausage, onion & tomato ketchup butty he ate midway through the first half.
Olympic started the second half in the same manor. They won every header, every tackle and were pushing forward at all opportunities. Disaster struck halfway into the second half as a corner was cleared by Blackburn United. They broke in numbers down the right hand side and caught Olympic on the back foot. Pat Box picked up a calf injury in the build up and was left in pain at the half way line. As the Olympic defence and some members of midfield covered for the left back however, they were unaware of the freakishly tall midfielder lurking on the edge of the box. The attacker didnt disappoint and pulled the ball back to the unmarked giant who duly obliged and tucked the ball away to make it 0-1. The Olympic defence were left angered at the 5 or 6 Olympic players who where still in the opposition half when the goal was scored.
Olympic re-grouped and still looked like winning the game. As the game went into the final few minutes Rob Plummer rose highest to get on the end of a Alan Heaton corner but his header rebounded off the foot of the post to go behind for a goal kick. Olympic then had a penalty shout turned down as Ste Round forced his way into the area only then to be body checked WWF style but the referee ignored Olympics cries for a penalty. Into the final few seconds then and the ball ends up in the box again and is cleared off the line by the opposition out for a corner. The referee indicated it was going to be the last chance so everyone apart from Chris Mason in goal is forward. The ball is delivered into the box but it is too close to the keeper and he claims the ball in his arms. A big punt from him signals the full-time whistle much to Blackburn Uniteds delight.
One of the best performances of the season from Olympic but they desperately missed the fire power of the likes of Podmore & Parker upfront. Joe Taylor the referee awarded Carl Black with the man of the match award but in all fairness it could of been any of 8 Olympic players today.
Back to the pub for butties and chicken then watch Man Utd v Rovers ... i predict 2-1 to Man Utd with kick out and dive from Ronaldo and Santa Cruz scoring for Rovers! Put some money on boys, I tell thee!
