Bidwell Maintains Strikers Perfect Start

https://youtu.be/Uv161ZPmt0A A long range lob from Eddie Bidwell has ensured the Devonport Strikers remain a perfect 4 wins from 4 games as they accounted for South Hobart 1-0 at Valley Road. The defending Champions found the South defence a tough nut to crack, but eventually Bidwell produced the game's lone goal when he caught out Moncur with his opportunistic lobbed effort from 25 yards. The opening 25 minutes of the game consisted largely of Devonport peppering the South Hobart penalty area with a series of set pieces. Six early corners as well as a pair of free kicks saw the South Hobart defence put to a stern test by the dangerous delivery of reigning MVP Joel Stone. The end product was not there for the hosts however as Barnard, Mulraney and Bidwell all missed chances to open the scoring. The game could well have been over in the first 25 minutes given the sheer amount of chances they produced, but somehow it stayed o-0. After around 30 minutes South began to find their feet with some nice attacks coming down the left flank as Berezansky and Larby combined but a physically strong Strikers defence was well equipped to deal with their crosses into the area. Pitchford was never seriously tested but South had all the attacking play in the final 15 minutes of the half and it was Devonport who were probably the happier of the sides to hear the half time whistle to allow themselves to reset. The second half was a scrappy affair with space at a premium and neither side really producing any particularly inspiring or anything clear cut from open play. South were on an even footing now and doing just as much attacking as the Strikers albeit not looking overly threatening. Then on 70 minutes Eddie Bidwell produced something from nothing when he let fly from 25 yards out with a speculative effort that caught Moncur off guard, lobbing him and nestling in the back of the net to hand the Strikers on the lead. From there the Strikers did it comfortably and only looked like adding to their lead. Brody Denehey could have secured the win but he twice fired wide when one on one with Moncur who did well to get out and challenge the shooter on both occasions before denying a third effort from the winger when he stopped his headed effort. Dom Smith then came agonizingly close when he struck the post with a curling effort from outside the box but despite the host of late chances the insurance goal eluded them. It mattered little however as the Strikers never looked like conceding, seeing the game out in a professional manner to secure their fourth win by a solitary goal in four games. It means the Strikers have now gone 21-1-0 over their past 22 home games in the NPL Tasmania with the last time they tasted defeat at home in the league coming all the way back on May 5 of 2018.