Round 9 Match of the Round: Launceston United v Devonport Strikers
Round 9 kicks off with a rare Friday night fixture, as Launceston United hosts the Devonport Strikers at Birch Avenue in the Match of the Round.
United are one of 3 sides separated by just a single point on the table and they sit 7 points behind the Strikers heading into what will be their second meeting of the season. They have the chance to really push themselves back into the thrust of the title race if they can topple the ladder leaders here, but a defeat would leave them perhaps too far back to challenge.
Assistant coach Montana Leonard said the group felt positive after last weekend’s 4-2 win over the Glenorchy Knights.
“Last weekend, rebounding from the Cup game I thought we really came back together and worked hard at training and that really translated into the game last week," she said.
"[Coach] Nick [Rawlinson] and I were really proud of the girls, and I think it was one of our best full 90-minute performances.
"I think there were good vibes, they came together and the energy was positive; scoring goals throughout the whole game boosted them."
Leonard said the side was looking good and they were keen to carry that momentum into Friday night’s clash.
"I think we are looking really good heading into this weekend, we are focussing on our movement on and off the ball, doing what we do best," she said.
"I think we’ve prepared well this week, the lineup looks good and we’re feeling good about it.
"We are really looking to just continue to build this week - focusing on our principles and what we want to do this weekend, rather than the opposition, just building those good habits.”
Leonard suggested maintaining their side's focus throughout the 90 minutes would be a key to success.
“The transition moments, not switching off if the ball goes out, set pieces and just trying to keep up a strong performance over the whole 90 minutes; it's always a battle up against Devonport and those little things and moments can really change the game," she said.
The last time the two sides met, it ended 2-1 in favour of Devonport, with Leonard suggesting they would draw plenty of positives from their second-half performance in that match.
"We really came alive in the second half, so we tried to focus on the positives out of that game, the first half we came out a bit slow," she said.
"[But] we didn’t focus on it too much, it was a close game so that gives us a bit of confidence that we can get a result this time."
Strikers defender Louise McMullen said that the closeness of that previous meeting suggested this was a game that could go either way.
“Last time we met, it was a very close game and matches like that can go either way, so despite coming away with the win, we don’t rest on our laurels or make assumptions based on past performances," she said.
"We just try to maintain focus on whatever game is coming up.
"So the game tonight could be quite different to the last time, so we take each game as it comes. \We will be going in really focused and hoping to get the same result."
McMullen said that working hard on the side's defensive solidity had been a major focus this season.
"We certainly try to focus on our own game, but we need to look at each team we play and make a few adjustments," she said.
"One of our key focuses throughout the year has been a real focus on our defensive structures, staying really tight back there.
"We’ve seen that Launceston United can score in a lot of different ways so nailing that defensive structure will be really important."
With high winds forecast, McMullen suggested the inclement conditions could also dictate how the Strikers approached the match.
“I think the wind is supposed to drop a bit by the time we play, but it should still be right up there.
"It's certainly something to factor in that might change a few of our tactics heading into the game."
The other 2 matches scheduled for Round 9 will take place on Saturday. At Windsor Park, Riverside Olympic faces a red-hot Kingborough Lions outfit, who will need to ensure they aren’t distracted by looking ahead to next weekend’s Cup final as they look to continue their charge up the table.
At Lightwood Park, Taroona will look to push another contender; having acquitted themselves well against the Strikers a week earlier, they now host a South side who find themselves entering this one in desperate need of the 3 points to reignite their title bid, having fallen to a pair of heavy defeats in the past fortnight.
Round 9
Friday 31 May
Launceston United v Devonport Strikers, 6:45pm, Birch Avenue LIVE STREAM
Saturday 1 June
Riverside Olympic v Kingborough Lions, Windsor Park, 12:00pm LIVE STREAM
Taroona v South Hobart, Lightwood Park, 2:30pm LIVE STREAM