UWA and Olympic Kingsway have played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their mid-table Loans Café Amateur Premier League encounter at McGillivray Oval.

Both teams created numerous opportunities but in the end the draw was a fair result as neither side controlled the game for a significant period of time.

The opening minutes of the game were a scrappy affair as both sides tried to gain the early advantage over their opponents.

After the initial hesitation UWA fired the first effort on goal with a Sinno shot going high and wide and Iwasari following suit for Olympic Kingsway.

The opening goal of the game in the 21st minute came out of nowhere as Olympic keeper Nanini bombed a long clearance up field which left everyone confused, except his teammate Cooke, who in a one-on-one situation calmly slotted past Henderson in the UWA goal. 

UWA responded immediately to the setback, with D’Ascanio firing his shot into the side netting and Lee blasting his shot well high from the end of the box.

They were to get their reward in the 30th minute after a terrible mix up between Nanini and his defender Roach resulted in an own goal.

Nanini had come well off his line leaving an unfortunate Roach to head in to an empty net before realising Nanini’s position. 

The goal gave UWA some momentum as they pressed for a second goal to give them the lead.

D’Ascanio won a free kick on the edge of the box after a fantastic run, with Bedward’s fantastic effort being tipped onto the bar by Nanini. After a resulting scrap the Olympic defence managed to clear.

Iwasari continued to cause problems for UWA on the left, with his pace and trickery causing a number of headaches. However, right on half time he could only manage a tame shot that went wide.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half was undoubtedly the most exciting period of the game with both sides creating numerous opportunities.

Nanini was kept busy for Olympic as both Sim and Lee fired powerful efforts at him after some good lead up work.

At the other end Newhill should have given Olympic the lead as he headed straight over from inside the six yard box, following a magnificent run and cross from Iwasari.

The pair combined again a minute later but this time Newhill could only manage to hit a poor shot straight at Henderson in the UWA goal. 

Newhill was finding himself in a number of good opportunities, this time again in the box, but Ndiaye managed to intervene for UWA as Newhill brought the ball under control.
Iwasari and Newhill both failed to react inside the box to a brilliant cross from Dimitrovich on the right.

Afterwards it was UWA’s turn to press for the advantage as Lee and Bedward both fired stinging shots over the bar from 12 yards.

Bedward was proving instrumental in a number of UWA’s attacks but on the majority of occasions the final shot was lacking.

Another brilliant run from Iwasari ended with a low shot being saved by Henderson who stayed down after a resulting clash of bodies. Olympic’s Beesley could only manage to fire over after it was easier to put the ball into the empty net. 

Following treatment Henderson was able to get up and finish the game.

The intensity increased as both sides sought the winner and Olympic defender Wiles was booked for a crunching challenge on UWA’s Quinn. The two collided again a few minutes later with Wiles forced to get treatment.

Both sides had opportunities to win it late on, but even after seven minutes of stoppage time, the match was always bound to end in a draw.

Score: 1-1 (HT 1-1)
UWA: M. Henderson, M. Ndiaye (Ellwood 90’), P. Coughlin, S. Preston, D. Sinno, B. Briggs, M. Lee, S. Bedward, M. D’Ascanio, M. Sim (G. Ringrose 89’).

Bookings: Sim 14’, Sinno 80’.

Olympic Kingsway: J. Nanini, G. Wiles, K. Roach, A. Lickiss, D. Cuticone, P. Dimitrovich, A.Nanini, S. Beesley, S.Iwasari (Highet 78’), D. Cooke (Horgan 90’), R. Newhill. Subs Not Used: O. Wille.

Bookings:  Wiles 74’.

Referee: Sam Musca