https://youtu.be/ZSHBf8MXMkI
A convincing performance from Glenorchy Knights saw them defeat bottom-placed Clarence at KGV today. After knocking on the door for the opening 20 minutes, they finally found their break through and went on to score another seven as they made it back to back wins following last week's victory against Riverside.
Nick Naden scored the first the 24th minute after Knights had already registered a shot count in double digits, a lobbed through ball from Tyler Harrison playing the Knights striker in on goal. After shrugging off Jeremy Price, Naden calmly placed it through the legs of Downham and opened the scoring and the flood gates.
Despite being replaced at half time Alex Leszczynski scored the next three, the first coming from a volley following a deep cross from midfield in the 29th minute. Just over ten minutes later he scored again when Clarence failed to deal with a Tom Young cross and Leszczynski capitalised at the far post to double his individual tally and extend Knights' lead to three. One minute later, in the 43rd minute, another Leszczynski volley found the net when a deflection led to a high looping ball that fell to the Knights danger man just yards out from goal and he expertly side-footed it home to make it 4-0.
The half time whistle brought some relief for the visitors and a visibly discouraged Clarence side may have found some respite when they realised Leszczynski was replaced at the break but it was short lived as Declan Brown proved to be just as much of a headache for the Reds. After Sam James showed his finishing ability in the 54th minute with a well placed front post shot to make it 5-0, Brown went on to score three, one with his right foot, one with his left foot and a header that brought about his perfect hat-trick. Brown earned a penalty in the 56th minute and made no mistake in burying it for his first and Sam James turned provider for his second, a perfectly weighted cross allowing Brown to head home past Downham.
It was two minutes before full time that Brown scored his third as the Clarence defence switched off allowing a ball through to the Knights midfielder where he side-footed home a smart finish into the side netting. The full time whistle brought an end to Clarence's disappointing afternoon and it leaves them bottom of the table coming into the final few weeks of the NPL season.
"It was disappointing that we had a game-plan and we didn't execute it," said Clarence coach Warren Burt after the match. "There's a lot of young Challenge League players out there, that's all we've got to play. They're playing against men that are well trained. When those players develop, whether it be next year or the year after, we'll be a lot better."
Knights coach James Sherman was very complimentary of his side; "We played well today... We wanted to move the ball quickly. There were a few times in the first half where we didn't show a clinical, cutting edge but we got the ball there at the right time and we got the people there at the right time, we just didn't put the ball in the back of the net. That's really nitpicking to a degree though."
Following the draw between Launceston City and Riverside earlier today as well as Kingborough's loss to Devonport, Knights will jump to fifth place on the ladder, one point above the Lions in sixth.