https://youtu.be/dqMm7FTZ9K4
Riverside Olympic have Northern supremacy in the NPL after downing Launceston City 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The home side opened the scoring through an unorthodox Ryan Mccaragher strike, before Noah Mies equalised for the visitors less than ten minutes later. A 52nd minute Chris Waderman rocket proved to be the difference, as the team from Windsor Park beat their cross-town rival for the second time this season.
The game kicked off with an early Scott Murray shot, before Noah Mies hit a header into Jarrod Hill’s hands not long after, and it wasn’t long before the game really opened up.
In the sixth minute the ball fell to Liam Gilmore, with the number six playing it in the direction of Mccarragher. Mccarragher then utilised his body well before the ball spilled out the back to Nicholas Thorne. Mccarragher then slid in to tackle Thorne, kicking the ball into the back of the net and past the shocked Will Smith in the process, in what was a truly remarkable and unexpected slide tackle goal.
The goal sparked Launceston City into life and they almost found themselves back on terms, when Noah Mies cut the ball across the box, however nobody could apply the finishing touch. Moments later Martin Mitreski hit a shot straight to Hill, before Noah Mies hit just wide, and with the chances mounting it wasn’t long before City found a breakthrough.
In the 14th minute Hancox played a ball in the direction of Noah Mies and it should have been easily cut out by Drew Sykes. However, Sykes lost his feet, and the ball found its way to Mies who had the chance to take on Olner one on one. Mies then produced a step-over, cutting to the left of the goal before striking past Hill and into the right-hand corner of the net.
This goal moved the score to 1-1 and Launceston began to push for a second goal. Chances fell to Dyer, Linger and Mitreski, however none of them found the back of the net. In the 23rd minute Waderman found Campbell in the middle but his shot went wide of the goal.
Almost ten minutes after Campbell’s chance Launceston City almost drew ahead, with Matthew Oh producing a powerful strike that forced a great save from Hill. On the cusp of halftime Riverside created a fantastic chance, with a goal line clearance all that stood between them and the lead as the teams went into the sheds.
The second half kicked off with neither side having clear cut chances, however in the 52nd minute that changed. Riverside won a throw in on the left wing and it found Spanos in the box. Spanos then cut the ball back, finding Waderman who made no mistake, striking the ball with pace past Smith and into the back of the net.
Riverside were now 2-1 up and City started the search for an equaliser. In the 77th minute a Matthew Oh cross found the head of Mitreski, who headed wide of the goal. Just two minutes later the visitors found one of the best opportunities of the half when Noah Mies managed to get a cross into the box. Mies’ cross hit the head of Hancox who hit the ball just wide of the goal.
Ten minutes later Riverside almost sealed the game, before City cleared the ball off the line, however the game would not end without some added drama.
In the 93rd minute the visitors thought they had snatched a late draw when Lindsay Millington poked home from close range, only to be denied by the offside flag. Whilst clearly offside, the ball did take a touch off a Riverside player en route to him, but Tony Peart determined he had not made a deliberate play at the ball. It was the final action of the game, as Riverside held on to the 2-1 victory.
Speaking post-match Riverside coach Alex Gaetaini was happy that his side could get another victory and explained that the whole club was happy that it gained the upper hand on its northern rival. He spoke of his pride in the improvement in the performances of his side in the past few of weeks and hopes it will set up the club for 2020.
Launceston coach Lino Sciulli believed that his side “should’ve put it away in the first half.” However, he said that “all in all we’re improving week by week and I couldn’t be too hard on the boys, i’m annoyed that we lost a game we should’ve won but they gave their all.”
Next week Riverside play host to Kingborough, 2:30pm on Saturday at Windsor Park, meanwhile Launceston host South Hobart, 4:30pm on Saturday at Buckby Land Rover Park.