The Hobart Zebras have returned to form defeating Clarence United away at Wentworth Park in a 4-0 win over Warren Burt's men. In the process the Zebras also claimed the Luke Cripps memorial shield, held to remember the popular former player of both sides.
The Zebras had to utilise a lot of youth prospects today due to the suspensions and injuries they had before the game. Both Alex and Sam Smith were promoted to the starting eleven, while Arthur Wilson and Sam Jones came off the bench.
Matthew Sanders opened the scoring for Zebras when he won a spot kick in the 29th minute, after a handball was given in the box. Sanders made no mistake, cooly slotting it home past keeper Nicholas Downham.
Nicky Edwards would add one of his own shortly after when he capitalised on a defensive error by Clarence. Edwards weaved past the defence and hit his strike past Downham to give the away side a 2-0 lead going into the break.
Sanders picked up a brace in the 59th minute after running into space into the box and firing past the keeper for the Zebras third goal.
Edwards also made it a double, with a picture perfect free kick from just outside the box when his shot soared into the top right which proved to be the final action of the day.
After the game Hobart Zebras Manager Dave Smith praised his team. "Happy to give the kids a run, Sammy did very well, we had a lot of chances just didn't finish."
"Jayden Hey also did very well controlling the park, Great to win the shield and the respect of both parties shows it"
Clarence Manager Warren Burt expressed his disappointment in the result. "We had high hopes for today, Zebras had their players out, Downham is gaining more confidence."
(On Cripps) "We feel for the family, he was a great player and an asset to both clubs."
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Dwayne Walsh with the Shield- Tanner Coad[/caption]
Dwayne Walsh with the Shield- Tanner Coad[/caption]