It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Tasmanian State Teams as Ben Hamlett came off the bench and scored the game winning goal with the final kick of the game for the Men, as they edged a classy Melbourne City Youth side 2-1, but the Women's went down to the Victorians, who claimed a 5-0 win to retain the Bass Strait Cup.
The tone was set for the Men's game from the outset, as City showed their fine technical abilities and dominated possession from the early stages of the game. They played with great patience, happily turning around and passing back if nothing was on and waiting to find an opening before looking to launch an attack at the goals. It was made difficult by a staunch rearguard from Tasmania, with the back four doing a good job under constant pressure.
Savill opted to play an extra centre back in Paul Stevens at left back and had Quaile and Gorrie as the starting wingers, tracking back to provide extra coverage. It made life tough and frustrated the City side, though they still managed to forge some good goal scoring chances and they nearly took the lead early on when Tasmanian Nathaniel Atkinson, playing for City, had his header cleared off the line by the head of Jayden Hey.
Against the run of play it was Tasmania who opened the scoring as Darcy Hall was slipped through one-on-one by Jordan Muller. He slid the ball through the legs of the keeper and put Tasmania ahead 1-0. Hall played a fantastic game as the makeshift central striker, playing a role in both goals and making things happen with the ball at his feet.
City continued to control proceedings with their winger Sylaidios looking the best player on the pitch and he would set up the equalizer soon thereafter, feeding Nathaniel Atkinson, who came back to haunt his home State, finishing with a superb shot into the roof of the net.Atkinson almost had a second, moment later when he intercepted a poor back pass from Muller but as he tried to round Giantsopoulos, the keeper managed to snatch the ball away from his feet and keep things level.
Atkinson then almost set one up for his Tasmania just before half time when his back pass played in Darcy Hall, who couldn't find a way past the City keeper from a tight angle.
The second half lacked many clear cut chances but the best one came the way of City, when Yusuf Ahmed found space in the box and smashed a drive that the substitute keeper Mark Grace did extremely well to keep out with a spectacular save. Both keepers had good games in net for Tasmania and played a vital role in keeping them on level terms throughout.
Tasmania were gunning for the win and brought on all their attacking players from the bench as they seemed to run the game out the stronger of the two sides. It was real kitchen sink type stuff from the Tasmanian's and perhaps that extra motivation to drive for the win in front of the home crowd ultimately proved the difference.
Nick Morton had a chance to win it late when he pounced on a defensive error in the box, eight minutes from time, only to see his shot well saved by Delianov in City's net.
It was his South Hobart teammate, Ben Hamlett who would prove the hero, pouncing on the rebound from Dom Rossi's blocked shot to take a touch before burying the game winning goal with the final kick of the game. He ripped his shirt off and took off in celebration as the final whistle went. For a player who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons it was a great moment and a reminder of the ability he has when he can stay fit.
Slick Vics Reclaim The Cup
Earlier in the day the Tasmanian State Women's Team fell 5-0 to an impressive Victorian side who mastered the conditions and outclassed the hosts with a dominant performance to reclaim the Seasol Bass Strait Cup. In extremely windy conditions that made passing the ball difficult, it was the Victorians who dominated the match. Tasmania's insistence on playing the ball out from the back got them in trouble as the Victorians pressed up and sat on the short pass options which led to too many turnovers coming out from the back line. This coupled with the wind saw Tasmania struggling to get hold of possession and had the Victorians controlling the game. They took the lead 23 minutes in when Emma Robers dissected the defence with a splitting through ball which the dangerous Cindy Lay raced onto, rounded the keeper and finished comfortably. Lay, a former W-League player with Melbourne Victory was the stand out player on the ground and terrorised the Tasmanian defence throughout the match with her fine dribbling skills. She was instrumental in the second goal of the game which would prove a dagger to the hopes of the Tasmanian's. It would come off the back of one of Tasmania's best best spells of the game with Adelyn Ayton starting to show her class and looking the most likely to make something happen. There was a 20 minute period where she was running the game for the Tasmanian's, stroking the ball around superbly. It was a glimpse of the undeniable talent she has but unfortunately the Victorian defence, led by the excellent Jess Tay stood tall throughout this period. Then in the final minute of the half it was Elaina Vatcky who buried a chance after it was worked to her where she stood unmarked at the back post to smash home, leaving Margot Johnston with no chance. It was a bitter blow for the Tassie side who would have felt themselves a chance heading into the break down just 1-0. The second half was tough sledding, playing into a ferocious wind and the Victorians would exert their dominance on the contest. The speed of Pickett down the right was causing problems and she set up Vatcky for her second early in the second half for the third goal of the game. Pickett herself would add the 4th in the 70th minute when she was given far too much space at the top of the box to bury it through the legs of Johnston and ice the game. Tasmania to their credit fought hard despite being over matched, they kept fighting till the end and had a few players who stood out. Inocent Michael had some nice touches in midfield and her willingness to work back hard and harass the Victorian ball carriers prevented some nice attacking moves, whilst up top, Lucy Foote was among Tasmania's best. Foote did an exceptional job holding the ball up and getting on the end of long balls. Unfortunately she lacked support, far too often she would win the ball, but have nobody to pass to and be forced to play it all the way back to a defender instead. Though Tasmania pushed hard for a consolation marker, it wasn't to be as the goal that came in stoppage time went the way of Victoria, with a clinical counter attack setting up Bonnie Barnes to drive home and secure the 5-0 win for the Victorians.