Olympic cruise to cup triumph as Odins complete fairytale and La Fiamma claim women’s lockout cup

Olympic stormed their way to a knockout cup triumph as they completed a perfect season with a 6-1 smashing of La Fiamma on Saturday night.

They had won 17 games in a row and put six goals past the Rovers in their semifinal, so were always heavy favourites heading into the clash.

La Fiamma finished third on the regular season ladder and had not scored in their previous four meetings with Olympic while conceding 17 goals in the process.

They did manage to score but were just not at the same level as Olympic, who scored six goals with ease to complete a perfect season and claim the cup.

Paul Johnson finished the season with more than 20 goals — the only man to pass that mark — and Olympic are the best team in the Mid West competition by a considerable margin.

In the women’s league final, La Fiamma won an enthralling battle over Chapman Athletic in front of a big home crowd to complete an undefeated season.

The Reds had won 15 of 16 games during the regular season, conceding just three goals, and could not have been stronger favourites heading into the clash.

It was La Fiamma with all the ball early and Olivia Bidwell was a menace up forward, often taking on multiple defenders and finding a way through with ease.

It seemed destined Bidwell was going to score the opener and her moment came when a weak kick from the Chapman goalkeeper allowed her to pounce on the ball.

With the keeper off her line, she curled a shot over the top of her and into the back of the net to take her tally to 18 goals in 13 games.

The Reds were dominant and perhaps the only criticism for them is that Bidwell was too good, making their attack one-dimensional as they kept looking for her going forward.

Selina Kiddle beat the keeper to make it 20 goals in 14 games for the star forward.

La Fiamma was still doing all the attacking as Macie Gray sent a rocketing header towards goal off a corner, only for it to hit the crossbar as the teams went into the half tied at 1-all.

The Reds broke away again early in the second quarter as they cleared a corner which was picked up by Charlotte Layton at the halfway line. She went on a run to beat two defenders and drive it past the diving keeper to restore their lead.

Gray then smashed two shots, only to see them saved, and her third attempt went over the crossbar.

La Fiamma won a free kick just inside their attacking half and Bidwell launched the ball high into the box to make it 3-1.

With time running out, Athletic pulled one back to set up a nervy finish. The game opened up towards the end but there was to be no late jeopardy as the Reds held on to win 3-2 and claim the knockout cup.

In the reserves final, the Abrolhos Odins completed a fairy tale run in the intraclub clash against Thors to claim a stunning 2-1 victory.

After winning just three games all season to finish at the foot of the table, they timed their run perfectly to win three straight knockout finals and claim the cup.

After a scoreless first half, Odins got the opener through a chaos ball into the box as Darby Thompson drilled it home.

The lead didn’t last long as a defensive error forced a save which wasn’t cleared properly and a penalty was given away, which Marco Amazzini slotted after sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

But Odins found a response as Chadd Simson delivered an excellent cross into the box which was buried home by Josh Bollard.

From there the Odins were happy to park the bus and despite some nervy moments they held on to claim an incredible win and complete a remarkable finals run after such a poor regular season.