Record-breaking Wellington Olympic take fourth Central League title in a row

Wellington Olympic have claimed the Central League title for the fourth year in a row, setting new milestones for the club in the process.

Striker Hamish Watson scored in the 89th minute to give Olympic a 1-0 against Miramar Rangers to earn the three points that secured the 2024 title with two games to spare.

Main photo: Hamish Watson … has been a prolific scorer for Olympic, scoring 13 goals in the Central League. Photo: Phototek.

Club statistician Steven Robertson says the side’s recent run of form has helped rewrite Olympic’s record books.

While the side has scored 68 goals in the competition this season, the result against Miramar Rangers set a new club record for seven consecutive clean sheets.

Olympic’s defence have now played about 700 minutes of football since they last conceded a goal, when they fell behind to the Wellington Phoenix Reserves at Martin Luckie Park on June 19, 2024.

Since then, the club has scored 40 goals, without reply. Those results have been:

Western Suburbs, won 1-0
Waterside Karori, won 5-0
Stop Out (Chatham Cup), won 8-0
Stop Out, won 8-0
Manurewa (Chatham Cup), won 4-0
Island Bay United, won 8-0
Miramar Rangers, won 1-0

Olympic have won their last 18 matches (14 in the league, and four in the Chatham Cup), since last losing in April, to Western Suburbs.

Watson’s late goal against Rangers ensured Olympic avoided losing another record-breaking streak.

If the game had ended goalless, it would have been only the second 0-0 involving the side in their last 342 matches, dating back to 2009.

The only scoreless draw in that spell was a Central League game in May 2021.

With the Central League title in the bag, Olympic can now go after a trophy treble.

Next weekend, they travel to Canterbury’s Coastal Spirit, who are unbeaten this season, for the semi-final of the Chatham Cup.

Olympic last won the Chatham Cup in 2009.

Then, they will start their campaign to retain the Men’s National League title they won last December.

Meanwhile, a second-tier competition, Central League 2, will launch next year to provide a clear pathway for promotion to the Central League and men’s National League.