Olympic down Wests to stay in hunt for double

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

HEADING FOR THE NET: An unmarked Mickey Malivuk, of Olympic, heads past Western Suburbs goalkeeper Jake Gleeson during their Central League match at Newtown Park yesterday. Olympic went on to win 3-1.

The Central League could go down to the wire with an in-form Wellington Olympic handing Western Suburbs their first loss of the season to keep hopes of a rare league and Chatham Cup double alive.

Olympic maintained their unbeaten record in all competitions with a deserved 3-1 win against leaders Wests at a sun-drenched Newtown Park yesterday, keeping the Chatham Cup semifinalists in the hunt for the league title.

Miramar Rangers, though, have been eliminated from the title race after a shock 5-4 loss to an improving Wairarapa United in a helter-skelter match at David Farrington Park on Saturday.

Wests (39 points) are still in control of their own destiny, with a superior goal difference meaning they should need only one win from their two remaining matches, against Miramar and Olympic, to secure the title.

Olympic (33 points) have three matches left, against Petone, Wairarapa United and Wests, and three wins would be enough if Wests failed to pick up three points against Miramar.

Yesterday, they were simply too good for Wests, who suffered their first loss in 15 matches courtesy of a wonderful first-half strike from Mikey Halikias and two neatly taken goals in the second half, a well-timed header from Mickey Malivuk after a pinpoint Anthony Neonakis cross and a top-drawer finish from Chaz Lawrence.

Wests dragged a goal back with 20 minutes remaining but it was too little, too late.

Meanwhile, Wairarapa went 2-0 up inside 10 minutes against Miramar then had to come back from 4-2 down to seal a 5-4 win.

John Sutherland scored a hat-trick for Miramar, while Seule Soromon and Nick Roydhouse both got doubles for the triumphant visitors.

In the other match, Pedro Garcias scored a brace as Lower Hutt City ended their season on a high note with a 3-2 win against Wellington United at Newtown Park.

For the moment, Lower Hutt (34 points) have second spot to themselves.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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