For the third time in just four years the Devonport Strikers are the NPL Tasmania champions.
The men from the north-west sealed their title defence with a resounding 6-2 win over Riverside Olympic at Valley Road on Wednesday Night.
A hat trick to Miles Barnard, along with a double to Max Fitzgerald and a goal to Joel Stone saw the home side run away convincing winners.
The Strikers started the game with the clear intention of taking home all three points and it did not take long for the home side to score.
The first goal of the game came just five minutes into the contest when Max Fitzgerald found himself with the ball on the left wing. Fitzgerald did well to cross the ball into the box, where Joel Stone was left unmarked. Stone then made the visitors pay, curling a shot into the top corner and opening the scoring for the champions.
Despite going 1-0 up Devonport did not take their foot off the pedal, continuing to pile the pressure onto Riverside. Chances fell to Miles Barnard and Eddie Bidwell, before a crazy eight-minute spell saw the Strikers extend their lead.
In the 21st minute the ball found its way to Miles Barnard in the Strikers’ attacking half. Barnard then played a perfectly weighted ball, cutting through the Riverside defense to find Max Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald fired past Hill to double his sides lead.
Just two minutes after Fitzgerald’s goal the home fans were celebrating again, this time when Miles Barnard hit home. Barnard’s first goal of the game came after a great pass from Eddie Bidwell, with the ‘Fox in the Box’ making no mistake as he slid the ball past Jarrod Hill.
Barnard found himself on the score sheet again five minutes after his first, when he put away another great Eddie Bidwell pass in the 29th minute. This goal extended the Strikers lead to 4-0, however as the half drew closer to a conclusion the visitors struck back.
On the cusp of halftime, it was Nil Sanz who struck for Riverside, converting a great cross from the left to give his side hope as the teams went into the sheds.
The second half kicked off in a similar way to how the first ended with Riverside holding more of the ball. In the 52nd minute the home fans were sent into a panic as Riverside struck another goal back. This goal was credited to Luca Vigilante, who tapped home from close range after the ball bounced off the crossbar.
Vigilante's goal pulled the score to 4-2 and Riverside appeared to be back in the contest, however the Strikers were out to make sure that their party would not be spoilt.
Chances fell to Fitzgerald, Barnard and Stone, before in the 63rd minute Fitzgerald found his second.
The goal came after Syson crossed the ball into the box to Miles Barnard, who headed the ball goalwards before Jarrod Hill made a fantastic save. However Hill's save turned the ball onto the post, where it spilled into the path of Max Fitzgerald who fired in his second of the day.
The Strikers were now well and truly in the box seat to win the contest and as the weather got worse, it failed to dampen the home sides spirits. Daniel Syson produced a skillful run in the 78th minute, before Eddie Bidwell was brought down in the box for a penalty moments later. Miles Barnard was the man chosen to take the spot kick and he made no mistake, sealing his hat trick and extending his sides lead to 6-2.
This goal proved to be the last of the match and when the referee blew the whistle, Devonport were crowned the 2019 NPL Tasmania Champions once again.