Noah Mies scored twice and chalked up three assists as Launceston City downed Clarence 6-0 to claim their first victory of the season. Mies was inspired in attack, as City continued to pile more misery on the struggling Clarence outfit, surging in the second half after leading 2-0 at the break.
City were a class above their opposition all day and Mies was at the centre of everything, scoring twice and assisting on three more goals. They'll be sweating on the fitness of two key players going forward, though, after Matthew Oh and Alex Turner both picked up injuries in the second half.
Clarence, meanwhile, remain winless and on the bottom of the NPL TAS ladder after a second-half surge saw Launceston rip the game away from them.In their first game of the season at Wentworth Park, the home side looked to knock the ball around early and won the first corner of the game. That was one of the few wins for their day, though, as Launceston City hit the front within the game's first five minutes and went two up soon after.
Both goals came from bustling runs down the left from Mies, as he worked behind the defence and used his size and pace to keep them at bay. A pair of low crosses into the box led to a pair of City goals, as the first was tapped home by Greg Roller six yards out and the second found Jarrod Linger in a similar spot for another easy finish.
The remainder of the first half fell into a consistent pattern from there, as City dominated the possession but struggled in the final third. Clarence tried to respond on the counter attack and play the ball long, but the City back-line marshalled by keeper Lachlan Clark snuffed out every opportunity and every option.
Launceston would have been disappointed to only be two goals ahead at the break, and they came out breathing fire early in the second half. Five minutes into the second half their lead had been doubled, with another quickfire pair of goals.
An early corner was headed goalwards and into the crossbar, as the rebound ballooned to the back of the area. Alex Turner met the ball on the bounce and slammed it into the roof of the net, giving Jake French absolutely no chance of saving it.
Just minutes later, another corner made it's way to the opposite side of the park, where Mies collected and crossed into the heart of the area. Forward for the corner, Lindsay Millington rose and headed home strongly to make it 4-0.
A fifth goal before the hour mark put the result well and truly beyond doubt, as Mies finally and deservedly hit the score sheet himself. A Clarence turnover in the middle of the ground led to a through ball to Mies in a one-on-one with the keeper. His first effort was well saved by French off his line, but the rebound fell behind the Clarence gloveman and gave Mies an open tap-in.
A pair of injuries not long after left Launceston playing with ten men after already using their three substitutions. Matthew Oh looked to have hurt his leg in a heavy collision with French, while Alex Turner was stretchered off with a knee injury.
The lack of bodies on the park didn't slow City down, though, as Mies scored his second after a long aerial ball forward. He brought the ball down with defenders on either side of him, split through the middle of them with a lovely cutback and finished at the near post.
City threatened to add to their tally late, but the final whistle intervened to save Clarence from any further blushes. With the visitors leading the final shot count 21-6, the end margin could have certainly been bigger.
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Solstice Photography[/caption]
Solstice Photography[/caption]