Adelaide Olympic FC travelled to The Paddocks on Easter Monday for an away clash against Para Hills for the first time in five years. With the Knights relegated after their disastrous Super League season in 2011, they were always going to be one of this seasons Premier League teams to beat, and with former Marconi Stallions (NSW PL) Adelaide Olympic FC and Campbelltown City (FFSA SL) creative playmaker Simon Catanzaro in his debut season as a coach.
Of course, Olympic had other ideas and it took less than three minutes for experienced veteran Carl Robinson to pounce on a miscued shot by fellow striker Prokopi Loizides to give Olympic an early lead. Para Hills responded.
Exposing Olympics’ flanks wasn’t an option for the Knights because of their lack of speed therefore played through the middle of the park and after working themselves into the game with short, sharp and slick movement, the Knights were almost rewarded on 28 minutes when a cross from just inside the left of Olympics 18 yard box byline was met by prolific Para striker Rhys Townsend whose header beat Olympic custodian Matthew Milosevic only to hit the inside of his right hand post.
The second half started with Para trying to go forward at every opportunity and gain an early score to try and unnerve Olympic. Adelaide Olympic held off a final 10 minute Para onslaught on its goal.
