https://youtu.be/zV-ArOLnoYU
The Kingborough Lions have run out resounding 5-2 winners over Clarence Zebras and jumped into third place on the NPL Tas table in the process. Three goals inside the opening twenty minutes of the match set the Lions victory up as the Lions bounced back from their mid Cup disappointment in style.
Selection news for the home side saw only one change with second choice keeper Jake Hayers starting over regular Lee Mackie after coming on as a substitute for Mackie in the second-half of the midweek Lakoseljac Cup quarter-final making some impressive saves v South Hobart. Zebras also had a single change with captain Jayden Hey returning to the side.
It was Jack Martin who opened the scoring in the 1oth minute mark after getting onto an inadvertent ball from the Zebras defence after failing to clear in the attack. Martin with all the time in the world readied himself and placed it home with sheer power into the bottom left past Clarence keeper Joshua Jones.
After some sharp combination play from Kenneth Trac and Davis Bryan, Martin then completed his first-half brace after he dribbled into the box slotting it past the keeper into the bottom left once more to make it 2-0 soon thereafter.
Keenan Douce then launched in a low corner ball to Captain Danny Cowen at the near post who produced a brilliant backheel finish past Jones to send the scores to 3-0 inside the opening twenty minutes.
Clarence Zebras looked to be back in the hunt for 3 points after earning a free-kick from just outside the penalty box in the 28th minute. Ryan Cook took his chance with a great curling shot into the bottom left which bent wickedly past all Lions and Zebras players and the keeper Hayers to pull it back to 3-1.
Hayers then went from villain to hero, after his fumble in the box turned into a challenge on a Zebras attacker leaving referee Tony Peart had no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Up stepped the returning Hey but his effort was seen all the way through by Hayers who palmed away to the right much to the delight of the home fans.
Kingborough began the second-half in lightning fast fashion after an attacking play led to a dead ball opportunity just outside the box. Keenan Douce was the man to step up and his low driven effort was exceptional, curling around the defensive wall and nestling in the bottom right if the net. Douce saw his suspended team mate set-piece taker Chris Downes in the crowd during his celebration and gave a shout to the fans saying "Chris who?" Downes to his credit laughed it off as he and the Lions faithful were clearly delighted he could make it 4-1.
A second half Zebras comeback looked to be some chance when Sam Hills launched a long ball all the way to attacker Luke Huigsloot. Huigsloot ran past Lions defender Cowen and found boot to ball to lob over the head of Hayers and the away side had brought it back to a 4-2 margin with the added chance of possibly getting something back.
The only additional scoring would come from the Lions however, deep into stoppage time when Joel Sammut got onto a pass from Simon Vivarelli and hit with power past Jones with his effort bouncing in off the post to seal the 5-2 win.
Kingborough will now look to hosting South Hobart next Saturday night at Lightwood Park as they look to hold onto third place whilst the Clarence Zebras will set their focus on an away trip to NPL title leaders Devonport Strikers at Valley Rd.