For 82 scoreless minutes the Devonport Strikers toiled away against a resolute Clarence Zebras line up before finally breaking through late on to secure a 2-0 win and maintain top spot on the table. Substitute Todd Hingston fired home after a set piece fell to him in the box, before Brody Denehey made sure of the result 90 seconds later as the Strikers made it five wins from their opening five games.
It was a damp and windy Wentworth Park that greeted the players and that combined with the heavy pitch made for an incredibly scrappy affair.
Neither side really found any rhythm early on as the Zebras got bodies behind the ball and the Strikers preferred style of passing game was proving rather difficult to conjure in such conditions.
Chances were few and far between as Devonport enjoyed more of the ball but struggled to make it count, whilst the Zebras looked to hit them on the counter attack when possible.
Joshua Jones was acquitting himself well in the Clarence net when called upon and it was clear the home side were going to prove a tough nut to crack.
[caption id="attachment_14865" align="alignnone" width="617"]
Clarence Zebras 17yo Keeper, Josh Jones[/caption]
Brody Denehey came closest to opening the scoring when he struck the woodwork just past the half hour mark after the ball lobbed into his path in the penalty area. The winger's drilled effort across the keeper struck the upright and bounced wide and it was as close as either side came to scoring in the first half, as the game was locked up at 0-0 at the break.
The second half saw immediate action as Nathan Pitchford produced a massive save to deny Jayden Hey from close range. Walsh cut the ball back to Hey in the middle with only the keeper to beat, but Pitchford reacted superbly to get down and get somehow get a glove to his effort to keep the score locked at 0-0.
[caption id="attachment_14862" align="alignnone" width="618"]
Nathan Pitchford denies Jayden Hey[/caption]
From there the game fell back into the similar scrappy contest of the first half, with both sides putting in some firm challenges and neither team likely to win any awards for aesthetics.
Denehey's pace in behind was proving a constant threat and he looked the most likely avenue to breaking the deadlock, but when he fired a good chance wide on 75 minutes a rare 0-0 result looked to be firmly on the cards.
Enter King Leonidas, as substitute Todd Hingston finally provided the breakthrough on 82 minutes. A Joel Stone free kick led to a scramble in the box, with the ball spilling the way of Hingston at the back post who swept home a composed shot to put his side ahead.
Having held on so well for so long, the goal seemed to break the Zebras, as 90 seconds later they conceded again as Brody Denehey raced onto a through ball down the right wing before chipping home a well placed shot over the advancing Jones to double their lead and provide some breathing room.
The end result could have been even better for the visitors with Miles Barnard passing up three chances to hit the back of the net as his return to the ground where he scored 8 goals in a single game last season didn't quite go as well this time around.
It mattered little though with the Strikers claiming the win to maintain their perfect record and position atop the NPL Tasmania table after 5 rounds. Next week they host second placed Glenorchy Knights at Valley Road in what should be a massive game in shaping the title race.
https://youtu.be/GaWlEQSEO6Q
Clarence Zebras 17yo Keeper, Josh Jones[/caption]
Brody Denehey came closest to opening the scoring when he struck the woodwork just past the half hour mark after the ball lobbed into his path in the penalty area. The winger's drilled effort across the keeper struck the upright and bounced wide and it was as close as either side came to scoring in the first half, as the game was locked up at 0-0 at the break.
The second half saw immediate action as Nathan Pitchford produced a massive save to deny Jayden Hey from close range. Walsh cut the ball back to Hey in the middle with only the keeper to beat, but Pitchford reacted superbly to get down and get somehow get a glove to his effort to keep the score locked at 0-0.
[caption id="attachment_14862" align="alignnone" width="618"] Nathan Pitchford denies Jayden Hey[/caption]
From there the game fell back into the similar scrappy contest of the first half, with both sides putting in some firm challenges and neither team likely to win any awards for aesthetics.
Denehey's pace in behind was proving a constant threat and he looked the most likely avenue to breaking the deadlock, but when he fired a good chance wide on 75 minutes a rare 0-0 result looked to be firmly on the cards.
Enter King Leonidas, as substitute Todd Hingston finally provided the breakthrough on 82 minutes. A Joel Stone free kick led to a scramble in the box, with the ball spilling the way of Hingston at the back post who swept home a composed shot to put his side ahead.
Having held on so well for so long, the goal seemed to break the Zebras, as 90 seconds later they conceded again as Brody Denehey raced onto a through ball down the right wing before chipping home a well placed shot over the advancing Jones to double their lead and provide some breathing room.
The end result could have been even better for the visitors with Miles Barnard passing up three chances to hit the back of the net as his return to the ground where he scored 8 goals in a single game last season didn't quite go as well this time around.
It mattered little though with the Strikers claiming the win to maintain their perfect record and position atop the NPL Tasmania table after 5 rounds. Next week they host second placed Glenorchy Knights at Valley Road in what should be a massive game in shaping the title race.
https://youtu.be/GaWlEQSEO6Q