MetroStars top of the league but the pack stay close in a tight NPLSA | RAA Round 19 Wrap

By Thomas Perrotta

Late drama ensured Adelaide Olympic collected all three points in their 2-1 triumph over Modbury Jets on Friday night at Smith Partners Stadium.

Both sides were desperately searching for a win heading into the match, with Olympic losing their last two fixtures and the Jets having not picked up a point since the season restart.

It was the home side who first drew blood after a heavy touch in the Jets’ penalty area by Olympic’s Panagiotis Manidakis sent the advancing Zac Miller to ground and prompted the referee to point to the spot, which Donovan Pollock duly converted.

Olympic would respond strongly to the half-time deficit, levelling the scores less than two minutes into the second half through a powerful Charlie Devereux strike from 18 yards.

As both sides pressed hard for an elusive winner, Manidakis produced a sublime through ball from the halfway line that sat up perfectly for Olympic skipper Christos Pounendis to lob the keeper and seal all three points for his side.

“Away at Modbury on a Friday night is a difficult fixture for anyone in the league, so to come away with all three points in the manner we did will definitely give us confidence for the coming weeks,” Devereux said after the win.

Elsewhere, Cumberland United continued their recent rise up the table with a 3-1 victory against Croydon Kings, while Adelaide Blue Eagles made it two wins in as many weeks after their 2-0 triumph over Para Hills Knights.

Two top-of-the-table clashes were decided by a singular goal, with MetroStars and Raiders grinding out 1-0 wins over Campbelltown City and Adelaide City respectively, and Adelaide Comets rounded out the weekend of results with a 3-0 defeat of Adelaide United.