Launceston City have their first point of the 2020 NPL Tasmania season, as they played out a 2-2 draw with Clarence Zebras at Buckby Landrover Park. Twice the hosts were forced to fight back after falling behind, as goals from Hawes and Oh cancelled out Hey and Juju's go-ahead goals for the visitors, in a scrappy but entertaining clash that came to life in the final 15 minutes.
It was the Zebras who were gifted the chance to take the lead at the quarter of the hour mark when Mason Gardner was adjudged to have tripped up Lachie Burt in the box with a dangling leg which looked a harsh decision on the City defender.
Up stepped Jayden Hey and the Zebras skipper made no mistake as he fired home to send Nash the wrong way and put his side a goal to the good.
City responded in a rapid fire manner and got back on terms when James Hawes pounced on a scoring chance. Alex Rossetto crossed in from wide on the right to Rob Gerrard who cushioned the ball down with a lovely touch to set the chance for Hawes. The youngster made no mistake, firing home a fine finish to mark his starting debut with a first NPL goal.
City looked the more likely to find a second as the half wore on but by large it was an even albeit scrappy contest that was developing.
Hawes would also play a role in the next goal, unfortunately for City, one scored by the visitors as he coughed it up in midfield allowing Matt Pace to spring Samson Juju in behind. Juju calmly placed his shot home to chalk up his first goal since making the switch from South Hobart.
Having seen Nash make a pair of big saves to keep the scores level it had been a goal Zebras had threatened to score, but City would have been frustrated as they had been looking the more likely side and were eyeing off a breakthrough win.
Once again the goal drew an immediate response from the hosts, with Matthew Oh providing the unlikely leveller. A free kick into the box fell nicely for him and he took the finish with a conviction that any striker would proud of, lashing it home.
Despite a late push there would be no further scoring in the final 10 minutes of the game and both sides were forced to settle for a point as it ended 2-2. For City it was a first point of the season, but they would've been disappointed to not take all 3. Clarence Zebras will be content with the final result though surely rue the fact that they couldn't hold onto a lead for more than five minutes.
https://youtu.be/nHEqBguI5_g