Chasers Given Renewed Hope
Welcome to the weekend washup for Round 11 on a weekend where Launceston United finally stumbled and their nearest title rivals both took full advantage by scoring thumping wins to close the gap and dial up the pressure on the ladder leaders. United still remains the league’s front runner and very much the team to beat, especially given they have the easiest fixture out of the top three sides left to play. Yet this will surely provide some heart for the sides trying to haul them in and it keeps things much tighter on the table.
United Remain Unbeaten but Finally Falter
For the first time all season I am not writing about Launceston United winning after they were held by the Devonport Strikers 1-1 in a tight battle at Floorworld Park. Just as it was at Valley Road in the first meeting for 2022, it was a hard-fought clash that showed the fine margins between the pair, and this time the Strikers got something to show for it as the points were shared.
It was business as usual out of the blocks for United as they took the lead on 20 minutes when Dani Gunton picked out the top corner with a quality shot from the top of the box. She has been enjoying a fine season for United and this was another top class strike from her.
But Devonport soon got themselves back on terms from the penalty spot after Nichola James was adjudged to have fouled Sam Hardy in the box. To my eyes, it was an extraordinarily harsh call, but the Strikers took full advantage as Maddie Payne stepped up and absolutely lasered home the spot kick. Given it was from just a two-step run up it was shocking just how much power she got behind the strike and it blew by Carnie and into the back of the net.
Carnie would stand up and make a huge stop for her side just before half time though, reacting well to come sharply off her line and make a difficult leg save to deny Jazmin White yet another goal.
As the game wore on in the second half United started to create a bit more but they were still largely restricted to shots from distance. LaMonte fired off a few dangerous efforts but nothing to seriously test Bennett in the Strikers net.
The exception was on 73 minutes when LaMonte got on the end of a superb long-range cross from Neve Farquhar but whilst showing exceptional technique to catch the volley cleanly on the drop, her shot just lacked the direction, firing straight at the perfectly placed Brooke Bennett who made the save and kept it squared at 1-1, as it would remain to the final whistle.
The lack of chances has to go down to the structure and nous of the Strikers side. Devonport have handled and defended this United side far better than anyone else in the league this year. They’ve restricted them to just 3 goals in the 2 meetings and a lot fewer scoring chances than we usually see United generate week to week. Nine points is probably too greater a gap for the Strikers to haul in at this stage and seriously push for the title, but defence wins Championships and there is no doubt this is a really good one. The building blocks certainly appear to be in place at Valley Road.
South Run Riot at the Den
The night prior South Hobart had temporarily moved to the top of the table with an utter dismantling of the Kingborough Lions.
They scored so many that whoever was running the scoreboard on NPL TV seemingly lost count, it still shows it as 9-1, but the final score here was 10-1 as South ran riot from the opening minute to the last.
With the Lions seemingly having turned a corner in the weeks prior, this was up there with their most disappointing efforts of the year as South took control from the first minute when Ella McConnon hit the back of the net just 40 seconds in, coming from the first attacking move of the match.
Then it was time for Bonnie Davies and Mia Cane to take over the show, as they scored the next seven goals of the game between themselves. Davies helped herself to four to close the gap in the Golden Boot race, whilst Cane’s treble means she now has 12 in her past five games.
The pick of the goals were Davie’s bomb from 30 yards out that chipped the keeper, and Cane’s quite brilliant volley from the angle that was in such an awkward position that I am still not sure how she managed to score from there, it was Zlatanesque!
Meghan Goscombe did pull back one consolation goal for the Lions in the second half with a tidy finish, but when Talia White and Aline Kidd also got in on the scoring act late on, South reached double digits and it ended 10-1.
The result still leaves South sitting just a point behind United, who also have a game in hand, but they close that gap by 2 points and now have a +17 on them in goal difference. Strap yourselves in for the second half of the year because we have a very interesting title race developing.
Stalker Hits Pirates For Six
The Clarence Zebras also inflicted a thumping defeat as they comfortably accounted for Taroona 8-0 at Kelvedon Park, as Caitlin Stalker helped herself to six goals!
Whilst emphatic, it represents an improvement of sorts for Taroona, but there really was only one direction to go from the 15-0 result in their first meeting and I still don’t think they’d be overly thrilled with the manner of the 8-0 loss here, even if it does represent some progress on the scoreboard. They were far too passive in defence and made to pay the price for it.
It really was the Caitlin Stalker show, and she wasted no time leaving her mark by finishing off some nice build-up play from Marmion and Diafokeris for the game’s first two goals, both from close range.
The third was the harshest penalty I think I’ve seen all year as Link was adjudged to have handballed in the box, but short of lopping her arm off, I’m not really sure what she could’ve done to avoid it.
Regardless up stepped Stalker for her hat-trick inside the first 25 minutes of the game to make it 3-0, a score it would remain till halftime.
Stalker was not done there though, whilst her first-half goals were pretty routine finishes, her three second-half goals were all wonderful solo goals, as she repeatedly just waltzed through the Pirates defence way too easily. Three times she got it charged forward and the defence sat off her, and all three times she simply finished her runs by depositing it into the back of the net. They simply couldn’t handle her running at them and it took her tally on the day to six, a stunning performance!
Zoe Nichols also got in on the act, scoring a well-taken brace late on, as the Zebras powered to a thumping 8-0 final score. The Zebras will now head into the bye ahead of a 3-week stretch that will ultimately define where they finish. They play South Hobart, Devonport and Launceston United in their next three games. If they can win all 3, they are going to be right back in the mix, but they will be far more challenging fixtures and will need them to offer more than they have in games against the best sides so far in 2022.