https://youtu.be/UwHQesW0J5w
Mackenzie Hancox scored in the final minute of play in the first half and the Launceston City defence held up under siege in the second half as they walked away from KGV with a 1-0 win over the Glenorchy Knights. Ater an end to end first 45, the Knights bossed the second half, but they couldn't find the breakthrough as City held on stoutly and claimed a third win in four league games.
The first half was a wide open affair and it was the Knights who started brightest, creating multiple early chances for Matt Nowicki who was positioning himself on the left and causing major headaches early on. He forced Lachie Clark into a sharp stop on 15 minutes as he came out to the top of the box and made himself big to smother the attempted lob, before City got a foothold in the game.
Shane Cartwright was running the show in midfield and City had a spell of 20 minutes where they seemed destined to score as they moved the ball around the pitch with a real purpose.
Nester came up huge to deny Mitreski the opening goal after some lovely build up from Mies and Cartwright forged a chance for the American at the top of the box. Nester got a hand to his well driven effort and steered it behind for a corner.
Then it was Nowicki who rattled the crossbar at the other end as he finessed one for the far corner that missed by a coat of paint.
It was a real see-sawing first half of football, with momentum swinging constantly and both sides looking to attack. It made for a really enjoyable game for spectators as the game flowed from end to end.
Then on the stroke of half time it was City who finally took one of the many chances that had been created. Noah Mies, who was otherwise well marshalled by the impressive Harrison/Young central defensive partnership, chipped one over the top for Mackenzie Hancox. The young striker took one touch to put it out in front and then finished with a perfectly placed shot with his second touch, picking out the far corner of the net.
It was a well deserved goal given the way they played in the first half, but would prove one of their final chances of the match as they dried up in a more dour second half.
City were on the back foot for much of the second 45, as the Knights wrestled control of the game and really had them under pressure for the majority of the half. It felt like the dam wall simply had to burst under the constant weight of balls played into the box. Yet for all their industry, clear cut chances were hardly flowing and a great amount of credit should go to Patrick Sullivan and Lindsay Millington for the way they defended.
Nick Naden came the closest, twice drawing good saves from Clark including one at the end of a barnstorming run that saw him carry the ball from halfway to the 6 yard box. But the City gloveman was again a strong presence in net for his side and able to maintain the clean sheet that saw his side home.
https://youtu.be/S5OFSngU0cc
https://youtu.be/59C4ckzGJiQ