Fast Starting Zebras Down Devonport

The Hobart Zebras remain the only undefeated side in the NPL TAS, downing Devonport 2-1 at KGV on Monday. A fast-starting Zebras got the scoring underway through Nicky Edwards in the 7^thminute, before Matthew Sanders doubled the home sides lead just four minutes later. On the cusp of halftime Kieran Mulraney struck back for the visitors but it wasn’t enough, seeing Hobart run out 2-1 winners. The game began with the Zebras on the attack, playing a different style to usual, and this proved to be working, with Matt Pace creating an early chance. The Zebras new style continued to push the visiting team’s defence, and it wasn’t long before a breakthrough occurred, with Nicky Edwards putting his name on the score-sheet. Ryi Yonezawa got the attack underway, launching a long diagonal ball across the pitch. This pass then bounced off the head of Eddie Bidwell into the path of Riley Dillon. Dillon then cut inside, playing the ball in the Nicky Edwards direction before Rafael Reynolds got in the way. However, Reynolds attempted clearance was straight into the leg of Edwards, who managed to pounce on the loose ball and hit it past Pitchford into the back of the net, putting the home side 1-0 up after seven minutes. Just a minute later and Devonport almost found an automatic reply, with Ignacio Giampaoli flicking the ball into the path of Joel Stone. Stone then played the ball through to Fitzgerald in the box, however the flag was raised for offside. Soon after and it was Guillermo Lazcano who had a chance to equalise, hitting off target from the top of the box. These missed chances proved to be costly, with the Zebras doubling their lead in the 11th minute. Riley Dillon found time to play the ball on the left wing to find Jayden Hey who played it back across the box. This ball then snuck its way past Nathan Pitchford and the Strikers defence to find Matthew Sanders in the box, Sanders made no mistake, putting the home side 2-0 up. This early dominance did not last however, with the Strikers producing a number of chances in an attempt to keep themselves in the contest. First it was Miles Barnard, and then Joel Stone who forced Whatman into action. In the 23rd minute Stone and Fitzgerald combined for a great one-two, however yet again they failed to finish. In the 30th minute Fitzgerald found Syson who had his shot cleared off the line and with the visitors pushing hard for a goal, it was inevitable that one would soon come. Right before the break the Strikers won a corner. The corner resulted in the ball being struck onto the post, before Kieran Mulraney slammed the rebound into the back of the net to move the score to 2-1 as teams went into the sheds. The second half began with both Whatman and Pitchford being called in to action, with Pitchford producing a great save to stop a Nicky Edwards shot. In the 67th minute the Strikers produced a great chance, with Miles Barnard almost hitting the equaliser, only to be blocked by a fantastic Tommy Little challenge. As the game drew closer to an end Devonport continued to push for an equaliser. In the 83^rdminute Stone hit a powerful shot on target, and in the 87^th the ball hit Whatman in the chest again. What was to follow was six minutes of madness, with chaos in the box almost seeing the visitors even the scores. In stoppage time, Nathan Pitchford stepped up, taking a throw in before hitting a long freekick into his sides attacking area. This cross found the head of a teammate, who hit the crossbar, before being cleared for a Devonport corner. All twenty-two players found themselves in the box for this corner, with Nathan Pitchford almost hitting an acrobatic shot in injury time. However, it wasn’t to be, with the Zebras holding on to run out 2-1 winners. Speaking post-match, Zebras coach David Smith labelled the game his sides “mini grand final”. He explained how his side changed their system, which had a great impact early in the game, but the players naturally began to defend more as the game wore on. Devonport coach Rick Coghlan thought that the first ten minutes was the deciding factor in the game. He believed after these opening minutes his side were the dominant team but couldn’t turn it into a result. The win sees the Zebras remain the only undefeated team in the NPL TAS, however the Strikers remain on top. Next week the Zebras have an Anzac Day Blockbuster, taking on South Hobart, Thursday, 3:15pm at North Hobart Oval. Meanwhile Devonport will look to bounce back clashing with Launceston City, Saturday, 4:30pm at Valley Road. https://youtu.be/HkrUyhFp1Ec https://youtu.be/A5Hwie9PGww   [caption id="attachment_10843" align="alignnone" width="2851"] Mulraney cut the score back to 2-1- Solstice Photography[/caption]