https://youtu.be/itny2xMQgeI
The Clarence Zebras have won two games in a row for the first time in club history after downing Riverside Olympic 4-1 at a wet and windy Wentworth Park on Saturday afternoon.
A brace to Riley Dillon along with goals to Ryan Cook and James Ackerley saw the home side run out convincing winners.
The Zebras began the game firing with Huigsloot and Dillon combining along with combination play from Pace and Price. This early pressure continued throughout the opening stages, with the home side breaking through in the 15th minute.
The first goal came through Lachlan Burt who played a great ball to Riley Dillon at the back post. Dillon then headed the ball past Riverside’s Jarrod Hill and into the back of the net, putting his side 1-0 up.
Following this chance, the visitors had one of their own through Fletcher Fulton, however his shot went straight to Joshua Jones. This missed chance proved costly as the Zebras doubled their lead two minutes after their opener.
The home side’s second goal came once again from a Lachlan Burt assist, this time Burt found Ryan Cook at the top of the box. Cook then took one touch before hitting a left foot rocket into the underside of the cross bar and into the back of the net.
Two more chances fell the Zebras way after this goal, with a great run from Dillon down the left, before Pace forced a great save from Jarrod Hill. Three minutes after this chance the visiting side thought they had scored when Fulton hit the ball past the keeper, however the ball failed to cross the line.
As the half wore on the weather became more extreme with wind and rain causing havoc on the field. These conditions saw both sides take their foot off the pedal before a Pace and Burt one-two play broke through the Riverside defence and almost scored the home side a third.
On the cusp of halftime Hancox forced a save from Jones and the score remained 2-0 as the teams went into the rooms.
The second half kicked off with two good attacks from the visiting side, with a Hancox shot hitting the side netting. Soon after this Burt hit wide of the goal before Riley Dillon almost scored his second when Hill made a save.
With the conditions easing the home side began to create more chances and in the 72nd minute they broke through again. This goal came after Hills played a high ball to the back post to find Riley Dillon. Dillon then struck a fantastic left foot volley into the back of the net, doubling his individual tally and moving the score to 3-0.
Just two minutes after the Zebras’ third, Riverside found their first with Fletcher Fulton hitting home. This goal came from a defence splitting, outside of the boot through ball from Max Reissig that found Fulton. Fulton then finished well, giving his side hope as the game began to draw closer to an end.
Zebras substitute James Ackerley hit wide in the 82nd minute, before a minute later the visitors thought they had scored a second, however the flag was raised for offside. These chances came before the Zebras put the final nail in the coffin in the 89th minute.
The Zebras fourth goal came through James Ackerley, with the number 16 receiving the ball in space in the box. Ackerley’s first effort was stopped by a defender, before his second chance went past Jarrod Hill and into the back of the net. This goal brought the score to 4-1 and that was how it stayed, with the Zebras running out convincing winners.
Speaking post game Riverside coach Alex Gaetani was “disappointed” with his side’s performance. Gaetani explained that his team “was always chasing the game” and identified the lack of experience in his side as an issue. “We’ve got so many injuries at the moment, we’re really stretched in terms of the age of our side, there was probably one player over the age of 20 out there so we are very young.”
Clarence Zebras coach David Smith thought his side started off really well in the first 20 minutes and created chances. “I thought we created a lot of good chances and we got a bit of confidence from last weekend” Smith said. Smith explained that confidence is key to his sides improved performances, and also outlined that Thomas Little will return to Melbourne next week.
The result sees the Zebras remain in 6th and extend their points buffer over the 7th placed Riverside.
Next week Riverside play host to Launceston City, 2:15pm at Windsor Park on Saturday. Meanwhile the Zebras travel to Lightwood Park at 6:30pm also on Saturday.