Photo: Solstice Digital
Match report: Dan Thurley
The NPL Tasmania is set for a dream finish with the Glenorchy Knights earning a crucial three points over the Devonport Strikers in the penultimate round, teeing up a nerve-wracking final day of action.
The Strikers travelled to KGV with the opportunity to take the league trophy back home with them, and a strong contingent of travelling fans had made the trip south to see it happen. The Strikers’ fan-base was bolstered by the fact that the Hobart Cup took place over the same weekend, giving Devonport’s competing junior teams the opportunity to see one of the NPL Tasmania’s games of the season unfold.
A quick, physical start to the first half was reminiscent of the last high-stakes meeting between the two sides, and although the drama of that Lakoseljac Cup final would be hard to match, the intensity was replicated in every minute of the 90. The Knights had the Strikers on the back foot early in the first half, and although they had plenty of possession in the final third, their best sight at goal came via Austin Yost’s corner that had Nathan Pitchford back pedalling to punch it out from under the crossbar and to the safety of the byline.
[caption id="attachment_17555" align="aligncenter" width="615"]
Photo: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Brody Denehey and Jordan Lamb had clear instructions to press when the Knights’ back three were in possession, and their tireless running was rewarded in the 29th minute when Lamb gained possession deep into his attacking half. He neatly nutmegged Eli Luttmer on his way into the Knights’ area, but Lachlan Hart rose to the occasion and palmed his effort over the bar which ensured the half would end on level terms.
Half Time: Glenorchy Knights 0 Devonport Strikers 0
The Knights entered the break having controlled the first term, but the Strikers resumed play on the front foot and seemed to have the better of the Knights in the early stages. That changed when Yost gave the Strikers a scare as he robbed Kieran Mulraney of possession in the 53rd minute, only to be denied by the alert Pitchford who rushed to his captain’s aid and cleared the danger.
Connor Schmidt started to contribute more going forward on the Knights’ right-hand side as the game wore on, and he got his first sight at goal in the 55th minute when he was unopposed heading toward the area. He got his head up and took the shot on, only for the scrambling Pitchford to deny his long-distance effort with a punch at full stretch.
The Knights found a breakthrough shortly after when a 57th minute corner was whipped across the face of goal and the Strikers failed to clear. Nick Mearns reacted the quickest in the midst of a goal mouth scramble and he got a toe to the ball to edge it over the line. Tempers boiled over in the aftermath with both sides pushing and shoving as referee Stratos Plomaritis did his best to separate the two teams and get the game restarted with the Knights one goal to the good.
[caption id="attachment_17556" align="aligncenter" width="615"]
Photo: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Luttmer had a chance to double the lead on the hour mark when Yost and Lucas Hill combined on the right and cut the ball back to the awaiting centre-back, but he blazed his effort high over the bar. Wing-play was a common theme in the coming minutes as the Knights started to find some luck from wide positions with the Strikers unable to deal with the threat.
Jordan Lamb – again the catalyst for the Strikers attack – broke down the right and had some space to attack in the 67th minute, but his squared ball split the awaiting Denehey and Joel Stone to find Jack Bowman who cleared to safety.
Charles Bidwell showed the Strikers frustration when Jordan Muller broke down a counter attack with a foul, and Bidwell responded with a push on the grounded Knights midfielder. It proved enough to kick off another scuffle with the two sides coming together yet again.
Amidst the physicality of the tie, Schmidt continued to produce moments of magic, the best of which came in the 78th minute when he picked up the ball deep in his own half. He beat two Strikers, briefly lost possession before winning it back, and stormed down the right-hand side before his shot from distance sailed over the bar to the frustration of two Knights waiting unmarked in the middle.
Mulraney featured heavily in the final ten minutes which began with a chance to draw the visitors level from a corner, but his effort was denied by a quick reaction from Hart. In the 87th minute it was Mulraney’s foul on Yost that left the Knights youngster bleeding from his left eyebrow, forcing the hand of Sherman who replaced him with Kalvin Pitt.
[caption id="attachment_17557" align="aligncenter" width="615"]
Photo: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Deep into stoppage time with the Strikers pushing, desperate for an equaliser, tempers flared yet again when Eduardo Castaneda and Stone clashed in front of the Knights bench. Another melee ensued which took some time for Plomaritis to separate, and he handed out four yellow cards as a result before blowing the final whistle and confirming the Knights victory.
Full Time: Glenorchy Knights 1 (Mearns 57’) Devonport Strikers 0
With the Knights earning the three points, the fate of the title will be decided next week where they face Launceston City at KGV, and the Strikers travel to Lightwood Park to face the Kingborough Lions.
NPL Round 4 Results:
South Hobart 10-2 Riverside Olympic
Glenorchy Knights 1-0 Devonport Strikers
Clarence Zebras 4-1 Launceston City
Kingborough Lions 2-0 Olympia Warriors
Photo: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Brody Denehey and Jordan Lamb had clear instructions to press when the Knights’ back three were in possession, and their tireless running was rewarded in the 29th minute when Lamb gained possession deep into his attacking half. He neatly nutmegged Eli Luttmer on his way into the Knights’ area, but Lachlan Hart rose to the occasion and palmed his effort over the bar which ensured the half would end on level terms.
Half Time: Glenorchy Knights 0 Devonport Strikers 0
The Knights entered the break having controlled the first term, but the Strikers resumed play on the front foot and seemed to have the better of the Knights in the early stages. That changed when Yost gave the Strikers a scare as he robbed Kieran Mulraney of possession in the 53rd minute, only to be denied by the alert Pitchford who rushed to his captain’s aid and cleared the danger.
Connor Schmidt started to contribute more going forward on the Knights’ right-hand side as the game wore on, and he got his first sight at goal in the 55th minute when he was unopposed heading toward the area. He got his head up and took the shot on, only for the scrambling Pitchford to deny his long-distance effort with a punch at full stretch.
The Knights found a breakthrough shortly after when a 57th minute corner was whipped across the face of goal and the Strikers failed to clear. Nick Mearns reacted the quickest in the midst of a goal mouth scramble and he got a toe to the ball to edge it over the line. Tempers boiled over in the aftermath with both sides pushing and shoving as referee Stratos Plomaritis did his best to separate the two teams and get the game restarted with the Knights one goal to the good.
[caption id="attachment_17556" align="aligncenter" width="615"] Photo: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Luttmer had a chance to double the lead on the hour mark when Yost and Lucas Hill combined on the right and cut the ball back to the awaiting centre-back, but he blazed his effort high over the bar. Wing-play was a common theme in the coming minutes as the Knights started to find some luck from wide positions with the Strikers unable to deal with the threat.
Jordan Lamb – again the catalyst for the Strikers attack – broke down the right and had some space to attack in the 67th minute, but his squared ball split the awaiting Denehey and Joel Stone to find Jack Bowman who cleared to safety.
Charles Bidwell showed the Strikers frustration when Jordan Muller broke down a counter attack with a foul, and Bidwell responded with a push on the grounded Knights midfielder. It proved enough to kick off another scuffle with the two sides coming together yet again.
Amidst the physicality of the tie, Schmidt continued to produce moments of magic, the best of which came in the 78th minute when he picked up the ball deep in his own half. He beat two Strikers, briefly lost possession before winning it back, and stormed down the right-hand side before his shot from distance sailed over the bar to the frustration of two Knights waiting unmarked in the middle.
Mulraney featured heavily in the final ten minutes which began with a chance to draw the visitors level from a corner, but his effort was denied by a quick reaction from Hart. In the 87th minute it was Mulraney’s foul on Yost that left the Knights youngster bleeding from his left eyebrow, forcing the hand of Sherman who replaced him with Kalvin Pitt.
[caption id="attachment_17557" align="aligncenter" width="615"] Photo: Solstice Digital[/caption]
Deep into stoppage time with the Strikers pushing, desperate for an equaliser, tempers flared yet again when Eduardo Castaneda and Stone clashed in front of the Knights bench. Another melee ensued which took some time for Plomaritis to separate, and he handed out four yellow cards as a result before blowing the final whistle and confirming the Knights victory.
Full Time: Glenorchy Knights 1 (Mearns 57’) Devonport Strikers 0
With the Knights earning the three points, the fate of the title will be decided next week where they face Launceston City at KGV, and the Strikers travel to Lightwood Park to face the Kingborough Lions.
NPL Round 4 Results:
South Hobart 10-2 Riverside Olympic
Glenorchy Knights 1-0 Devonport Strikers
Clarence Zebras 4-1 Launceston City
Kingborough Lions 2-0 Olympia Warriors