Photo: Solstice Digital
Match report by Daniel Thurley
The Clarence Zebras are the NPL Tasmania’s team of the east after defeating the Olympia Warriors for the third time this season in a routine 3-1 victory.
Warriors coach Rob Clarke welcomed the returning Koby Moschogianis back from suspension by placing him on the left side of a back three, while Kyle Vincent took his place up front forcing Brayton Allan to the bench.
The Italian contingent of fans behind the home goal had barely stopped celebrating the Euros success from six days prior when a frantic start saw the first real chance fall the Zebras’ way after just four minutes. Joel Sammut was robbed in midfield and possession fell to Riley Dillon. The Zebras captain fed Matthew Pace whose shot narrowly flashed wide.
The opening goal would come in similar fashion in the 18th minute, as Pace found himself running at the Warriors’ defence once again. With James Ackerley to the right and Dillon to the left, Pace opted for the former who delivered a cross to his captain, and Dillon made no mistake from close range.
The Zebras were unsettled by a forced change in the 28th minute. Lachie Burt replaced the injured Simon Stankovich and Dwayne Walsh moved to fullback. Among the adjustments, the Warriors found their attacking stride and Vincent was denied a goal by the retreating Ryan Cook, who moments earlier had made the mistake that allowed the Warriors’ striker in on goal.
Vincent found the net from the resulting corner however, with a close range header to draw the Warriors level. Parity would be short lived, as three minutes later a recycled corner was sent back into the box and Matthew Pace restored the Zebras’ lead in the 33rd minute with a volley past the stranded Jake Hayers.
Half Time: Clarence Zebras 2 (Dillon 18’, Pace 33’) Olympia Warriors 1 (Vincent 29’)
The Zebras held onto their 2-1 lead as half-time arrived, and came close to adding a third just seven minutes into the second half. Dillon climbed high to meet a cross from the left, but Hayers rose to the occasion and acrobatically tipped the effort over the bar. From the corner that followed, Dillon once again got his head to the delivery, only to be denied for the second time in 20 seconds - this time by the head of Sammut standing on the goal line.
A corner would eventually be the route that delivered a third goal for the Zebras. Cook got the slightest of touches on a 78th minute delivery that diverted the ball over the hands of Hayers and into the path of Sam Hills who did the rest to make it 3-1.
Dillon and his band of Zebras attackers were having fun throughout the second half, and Ackerley’s fancy feet seemed to have earned his side a penalty in the dying stages. He scooped the ball through the legs of his Warriors opponent before being taken down - it seemed - inside the 18-yard box, however referee Brenton Kopra adjudged the foul to have occurred outside the area.
Ackerley was involved once again as Hayers had a nervous moment in the 88th minute. He left the right side of his area to make a clearance which only went as far as the prowling Ackerley, who quickly set himself and pulled the trigger only to watch his shot at the open net drift wide.
Full Time: Clarence Zebras 3 (Dillon 18’, Pace 33’, Hills 78’) Olympia Warriors 1 (Vincent 29’)
The final whistle confirmed the Zebras’ fourth victory of the season which sends them to fifth place on the table, following Launceston City’s 4-1 loss to South Hobart earlier in the day. The Olympia Warriors slide from sixth to seventh place.
NPL Tasmania Round 14 Results:
South Hobart 4-1 Launceston City
Riverside Olympic vs Devonport Strikers - postponed
Clarence Zebras 3-1 Olympia Warriors
Kingborough Lions 1-4 Glenorchy Knights