The Devonport Strikers have taken an enormous stride towards securing their third consecutive league title, as they fought back from a goal behind to defeat the Olympia Warriors 2-1 at Warrior Park. The Strikers fell behind to an early Callum Brown goal, but headers from Brody Denehey and substitute Harry Crocker saw them grind out another road win that now leaves them on the precipice of another NPL TAS crown.
The Warriors took an early lead when Callum Brown started a counter attack on the right wing before working it to Nicholas Mearns. Mearns fed Gorrie who picked out Brown's continued run into the box where he took a touch before smashing a volley home past Pitchford. It was the perfect start for the hosts who were looking dangerous with their speed in attack.
Devonport got right back on terms shortly after however when Eddie Bidwell snuck between Randall and Hill, who should have dealt with the situation at the back better and toed it forwards towards the goal line. Hill did enough to keep it out and flicked it up in the air, but there was Brody Denehey whose header just snuck across the line at the back post and levelled the scores.
Brown should have restored the Warriors lead immediately after but could only find the crossbar with his close range volley and Brayton Allan had a good chance go wide from a corner but that was about as good as it got for Olympia, whose threat seemed to dissipate after the 20 minutes mark and the Strikers worked their way on top.
Though largely restricted to attempts from range that carried little real threat to Randall's goal, the Strikers looked firmly in command of the game as it wore on and they started to control the middle of the park. Olympia's attacking threat of the opening twenty minutes was absent and it was no surprise when Devonport did as they have all season and came up with a timely goal.
Joel Stone swung in the long range free kick and there was Harry Crocker at the back post to bob up and head the Strikers into the lead.
With 25 minutes to play the Warriors never looked like striking back, with just the lone shot on target from Mwarabu drawing Nathan Pitchford into his first save of the day on 88 minutes.
It was comfortable for the Strikers who once again shut their opposition right out of the game and with South Hobart holding Knights to a draw over at KGV, it now leaves them 6 points clear on top with just three rounds to go and one hand firmly on the title.
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