The Devonport Strikers were given a scare at Lightwood Park, but a late Max Fitzgerald goal saw them prevail 2-1 against Kingborough and advance to the Lakoseljac Cup quarter finals.
A lethargic Strikers outfit should have probably been behind at half time after a saved penalty from Lions skipper Danny Cowen. But some heroics from keeper Nathan Pitchford in the first half, and a much improved performance after the break, saw them do just enough to advance.
The game rolled gently into first gear from kickoff, as both teams eased into the contest over the first ten minutes. Despite their significant underdog status, it was the Lions that kicked the game into second and looked more likely to score.
Chris Downes was pulling the strings early, with a free kick from the edge of the area fumbled behind by Pitchford. From the ensuing corner, Downes' delivery found the head of Cowen front and centre, but his effort flew just over the crossbar.
It was a moment of madness from Pitchford immediately after that looked certain to give the hosts an early lead. Looking to play out from the back, he punted a pass straight into the chest of the oncoming Cameron Steele. As the forward looked to win the ball near the byline, Pitchford dropped his shoulder in an attempt to shepherd the ball out of play, but the heavy contact saw the referee point to the spot and award the penalty.
As quickly as he could have become the villain, though, Pitchford made himself the hero. Cowen's spot kick was driven hard and high down the middle, but the Strikers glove man didn't flinch and batted it away to safety.
Two minutes later, Pitchford again denied Cowen, this time in a one-on-one from point blank range. Those were the two biggest chances in the first half, and the Strikers could have easily found themselves two goals behind.
Instead, the game continued to slowly roll into half time, as chances were few and far between and the score remained 0-0. The Lions were certainly the better team in the first period, leading the shot count 6-3 and the corner tally 4-1, but their inability to convert would have leave them wanting early after the restart.
It took just forty seconds for Devonport to strike after the break, and it was substitute Eddie Bidwell that had an immediate impact. A barnstorming run down the left wing by Fitzgerald saw him charge towards the byline and into the area, where he played a cross low and hard to the back post. Bidwell timed his run to perfection and fired home from very close range to open the scoring and grab the momentum for the Strikers.
[caption id="attachment_10682" align="alignnone" width="575"]
Bidwell had an instant impact- Solstice Photography[/caption]
The half time break looked to have energised them, and they continued to press forward looking for a second goal. The Lions, on the other hand, struggled to find another gear and stick with their opponent.
Despite that, they somehow found an equaliser against the run of play and totally out of the blue. A hopeful cross from James Hall on the left hit the nearest defender and ballooned high and deep to the back of the box, where Keenan Douce was lurking. Rather than take a touch, he hit a volley first time that rocketed across the area and into the far bottom corner, where even Pitchford couldn't reach it.
The goal seemed to deflate the Strikers once again, and suddenly Kingborough looked more likely to take the lead. Hall had a promising attack just barely snuffed out by his marker, while Cowen continued to work hard and threaten up front.
Slowly but surely, though, the league leaders began to show their class. In a late five minute span, they had a header cleared off the line, and a curling Daniel Syson free kick and Ignacio Giampaoli shot both sneak over the crossbar.
The dam wall finally burst in the 80th minute, and it was Fitzgerald who capped off a stellar evening with the winner. An aerial ball from the centre circle found him on the left, and he brought it down perfectly, beat Noah Smithies-Sharples for pace to force his way into the area, and put his shot past the keeper at the near post.
[caption id="attachment_10683" align="alignnone" width="496"]
Max Fitzgerald had a great game- Solstice Photography[/caption]
While the Lions pushed hard for another equaliser, the final ten minutes saw Devonport expertly control the tempo until the final whistle. And while they were given their biggest scare of the season, the narrow win sees them move on to the quarter finals, while Kingborough will be left to rue their missed opportunities from home.
Bidwell had an instant impact- Solstice Photography[/caption]
The half time break looked to have energised them, and they continued to press forward looking for a second goal. The Lions, on the other hand, struggled to find another gear and stick with their opponent.
Despite that, they somehow found an equaliser against the run of play and totally out of the blue. A hopeful cross from James Hall on the left hit the nearest defender and ballooned high and deep to the back of the box, where Keenan Douce was lurking. Rather than take a touch, he hit a volley first time that rocketed across the area and into the far bottom corner, where even Pitchford couldn't reach it.
The goal seemed to deflate the Strikers once again, and suddenly Kingborough looked more likely to take the lead. Hall had a promising attack just barely snuffed out by his marker, while Cowen continued to work hard and threaten up front.
Slowly but surely, though, the league leaders began to show their class. In a late five minute span, they had a header cleared off the line, and a curling Daniel Syson free kick and Ignacio Giampaoli shot both sneak over the crossbar.
The dam wall finally burst in the 80th minute, and it was Fitzgerald who capped off a stellar evening with the winner. An aerial ball from the centre circle found him on the left, and he brought it down perfectly, beat Noah Smithies-Sharples for pace to force his way into the area, and put his shot past the keeper at the near post.
[caption id="attachment_10683" align="alignnone" width="496"] Max Fitzgerald had a great game- Solstice Photography[/caption]
While the Lions pushed hard for another equaliser, the final ten minutes saw Devonport expertly control the tempo until the final whistle. And while they were given their biggest scare of the season, the narrow win sees them move on to the quarter finals, while Kingborough will be left to rue their missed opportunities from home.