The London Olympians vs Essex Spartans (photo-gallery)
[Olympians 46– Spartans 0] May 16, 2010

Brimming with confidence off the back of a 36-0 win over the Norwich Devils last week the Olympians had nothing short of another win in mind however; they did receive an early wake up call. Olympians kicked off to the Spartans after the coin toss and a deep kick saw the visitors start the game opening drive from their own 20-yard line. The Spartans could not manage to move the ball significantly so had to punt on fourth down and despite receiving 5-yard penalty for an inadvertent hit on their kicker, not much came of their first drive. Olympians went for an all-out air attack, having started their possession from midfield, and QB Neale Canning hit receivers Chris Davies and Folley Ogundele for 3 and 10 yards respectively but subsequent passes were incomplete and Canning was sacked not long after. On their next offensive possession, the Spartans were on a high after sacking the Olympians QB but this was short-lived with a 3 and out. Again from midfield Canning threw consecutive passes; receiver (and team captain) Kenny Bello 5-yards and Ogundele 30-yards. Running back Alwyn Davis Jnr. ran for 5 yards and fullback Alex "Doc" Gabriel powered in for the Olympians first TD but the PAT was no good, 6-0.

The second quarter started with the Spartans taking the kick-off from the previous Olympians score but was again restricted to a three and out by the relentless defensive unit of the home team. QB Canning came out with definite intention to make the visitors think and hit receiver Davies for 10, running back Davis Jnr. rushed for 10 yards, Davies took 6 and 2 yard catches and running back Adrian John rushed for 3 yards but the Spartans defensive corp held their ground. Again, on their possession the Spartans had to punt after three downs and this time Olympians returner Bello rand back the punt for a TD and kicker Davies converted the PAT, 13-0. From the kick-off, the Spartans managed a good return to their 36 yard line only for linebacker Michael Omeru to steal the ball from the opposition and run it in for a defensive TD to the Olympians. Davies converted the PAT and now the Olympians were dominating the game by way of their defence, 20-0.

The Spartans special teams continued to press on and the ensuing kick-off return was advanced for 45 yards but the offence could not take advantage of the good field position. QB Canning continued his successful combination and running back Adrian John rushed for 8yards and from a slightly overthrown pass receiver Davies tipped it on to fellow receiver Daniel Jeanton who ran 26yards thereafter for a TD, Davies converted the PAT, 27-0. From this point until the end of the first half the Spartans offence still had no answer to sustaining a drive but their defence had some success by restricting Olympians QB Canning to only 2 completed passes to receiver Ogundele for 10 and 3 yards.

Starting the second half the Olympians returner Aaron Price weaved through the field to seeming score from the kick-off return with a 75 yard run but a penalty brought the ball back to the home team's 30 yard line. Despite combined 15 yard rush and 10yards catch from Davis Jnr and Jeanton respectively Spartans defence held firm. The recurring theme of 3 and out continued for the Spartans offence and the Olympians took possession midfield. Davis Jnr. and fellow running back Seun Shobande notched 12 yards a piece in rushing and QB Bishop Adkins started his second half scoring with a pass to Bello for a TD, however the PAT was no good 33-0. Spartans did not advance the ball as previously from the kick-off but sustained an offensive drive that got them a first down and midfield territory. This promising drive was short-lived with a turnover to the Olympians but other than a 20yard pass from QB Adkins to Bello the quarter did not produce another score.

The Olympians were still in possession in the fourth quarter and running backs rushing continued with Shobande 23yards, Davis Jnr. 6 but back-to-back penalties killed off the drive. The next Spartans drive was another promising one and two plays in they got a first down. A sack on their QB by Olympians defensive lineman Darren Whitney seemed to have halted this progression but a quick pass completion down the middle realised another first down. The tempo was high for the visitors and they were threatening to score in the least with their passing game then a pick by DB Tosin Dawudu turned the ball over to the Olympians. QB Adkins completed a short 8yard pass to Ogundele and then a TD pass to Bello, whilst kicker Victor Olamide converted the PAT to increase the score to 40-0. With the clock ticking down to full time the Spartans, had their sights set on making the passing game work and on their next possession narrowly missed connecting deep on two passing plays. This was cut short when DB Ashton Campbell picked of an interception and ran it in 28 yards for the final TD of the game. Time had run out for the PAT to be kicked so the score ended as 46-0 to the London Olympians.