ILLAWARRA PREMIER LEAGUE
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Wollongong Olympic have kept the pressure on the Illawarra Premier League top four by easily dispatching Fernhill on Saturday.
Olympic were every bit as good as the 4-0 scoreline suggested, outplaying the Foxes at Ray Robinson Field.
Both teams were in desperate need of three points, but it was the travelling side who wanted it more, cementing their place as a legitimate force in the competition.
Olympic opened the scoring just five minutes in when Burak Esen continued his devastating form in the Premier League.
Esen latched onto a through ball from Julian Minutillo and let fly with a thunderous right foot shot to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Just after half-time Esen had his second of the match, looping a shot from the right wing into the top corner.
The goal was the winger's fifth in two weeks, earning him high praise from coach Wayne Farnsworth.
"He is just that sort of freakish kid who can surprise you," Farnsworth said.
"He is one of those kids who wasn't handed it on a plate . . . he's had to earn it, but is obviously heading in the right direction."
Olympic sealed the three points midway through the second half when Minutillo made the score 3-0.
Jamie D'Amico came off the bench to score the team's fourth, capping off a superb performance from Olympic.
"It just shows you the importance of a squad, as all the players who came off the bench made an impact," Farnsworth said.
"You can't win a game with just 11. If you don't turn up, you are going to get beat . . . it doesn't matter who you're playing."
The win moves Olympic to outright sixth on the table, in a round that saw the league clearly split into two competing groups.
Each of the top six teams in the Premier League triumphed over clubs in the bottom half of the table, creating a distinct divide on the ladder.
In Round 11's other matches, a brace from Chris Bush ensured Coniston Lions remain bottom of the league, as Dapto Dandaloo Fury ran out 4-0 winners at J J Kelly Park.
Bulli returned to form at Balls Paddock against Cringila Lions.
The 2012 runners-up were a goal down early in the first half, but goals from Jared Fish and Ben McDonald handed them a deserved 2-1 win.
At Ocean Park, Wollongong United were made to work hard for a 1-0 win against Woonona, however, the Sharks bounced back in yesterday's deferred game, thrashing Coniston 5-0.
Tarrawanna easily took care of Albion Park White Eagles in a 5-1 drubbing on Friday night, while Port Kembla made sure they stayed top of the table with a hard fought 1-0 win against South Coast United.