Olympic FC have jumped to second on the ladder after a 3-0 win over Redlands United on Friday night.
While the score tells one story, it doesn't reflect how close the game was, with inch-perfect shots the difference between the two sides.
Redlands had chances in front of goal and held their own throughout the match but a clinical and more experienced Olympic side showed why they have been in top four throughout the year.
"I was quite pleased with the performance – obviously not the result but their performance I got to be quite happy about," Redlands coach Nick Dibbs said.
"But all in all, they are a good side Olympic and I think the better team got the three points. I think we turned up and competed, and the back four was much improved," he said.
The match was pulled forward a week due to Olympic's FFA Cup match-up against Lions FC next week.
Alex Smith broke the deadlock, scoring from a free-kick 10 minutes before half-time.
Olympic doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Costa Psaros turned in the box to hit the back of the net before they sealed the three points as Steve Whyte broke through the Redlands defence and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Andrew Ralph.
Redlands have brought a number of players through their NPL junior pathway to their senior side including Jackson Hart-Phillips (17) and Craig Peck (19) who started the match while Angus Broderick (17) and Ibrahim Hayden (18) both came on as substitutes.
Redlands have two important matches up next as they travel to Townsville at the start of August to face North Queensland United before facing Mackay Whitsundays Magpies Crusaders United at home the week after.
Magpies Crusaders sit one-point above Redlands while North Queensland sit two-points below with a game in hand.
"The next two games will be critical for us but I think we will be well prepared and if we can tweak a few things moving into both of those games we will be okay," Dibbs said.
