DEVONPORT STRIKERS V’s GLENORCHY KNIGHTS

Milan Lakoseljac Cup Quarter Final

Senior match report – Valley Road, Devonport

Saturday June 25, 2011

The Strikers played host to Southern Premier League team Glenorchy Knights on Saturday in the quarter final of the Lakoseljac Statewide Cup. These two teams met just last year at the same venue in the finals series where the Strikers were victorious 2-1.

League form generally goes out the window in cup clashes such as this and even though Knights had struggled in the SPL at times this season, it was never going to be an easy clash for the Devonport boys.

Coach Tom McGinn named an unchanged line-up from the team that defeated Somerset the previous week with Keegan Downes retaining his place after an impressive performance in that game. Ryan Keep also declared himself fit after being on the wrong end of a tackle on the training ground on Thursday night.

The game couldn’t have started much worse for the Strikers when, in the opening minute, Knights took an early lead with an impressive strike into the top corner of the net after they pounced on some hesitation from the Strikers midfield & defenders.

This early goal was perhaps the best wakeup call possible for the Devonport team & they began taking control of the game without being able to create any meaningful chances to test the Knights keeper. At the other end, Keep had control of his defence & wasn’t tested any further for the half.

The boys remained positive at the interval & were keen to get underway in the second half & attempt to put an early goal away to get back on level terms & then search for the winner.

Around 10 or 15 minutes into the second half, Grant Ashdown took a throw in to Chris McKenna on the left wing in front of the clubrooms. McKenna volleyed the ball back into Ashdown’s path & he then put in a superb cross to the top of the six yard box where Kieran Mulraney was on hand to head the ball past the Knights keeper for the equalising goal.

This gave the Strikers even more confidence in their ability to get the goal that would take them to the cup semi final. The Strikers back four were looking impenetrable and the Knights continually gave away silly free kicks out of frustration much to the annoyance of some of their own players.

With about 15 minutes remaining, Mulraney’s pressure was rewarded by winning a corner when the Knights looked to have control of the ball coming out from the back.

Substitute Jordan Douce hit a beautifully struck corner into the box where McKenna out jumped his significantly taller opponent to head home the match winning goal.

The Strikers comfortably saw out the remainder of the game & Knights only really looked dangerous when they had corners which were dealt with without any fuss.

So the Strikers move on to the cup semi final which will be played on July 23^rd. The draw is expected to be done on Friday July 1^st & the boys will be up against southern opposition once again after the remaining northern teams were knocked out on the weekend. The other teams remaining in the draw are South Hobart, Olympia & Taroona.

The lads have the bye this weekend & will get the chance to refresh themselves for a huge couple of months ahead.