DEVONPORT STRIKERS V’s NORTHERN RANGERS

Senior match report – Valley Road

Saturday May 28, 2011

We welcomed joint ladder leaders Northern Rangers to Valley Road on Saturday for what was always destined to be one of the matches of the season. Rangers have won the past two Northern League premierships & are, yet again, one of the leading teams this season & playing some quality football.

Only one change was made to the team which defeated Launceston United 7-0 in last week’s Lakoseljac Cup match with new recruit Robert Macdonald included & partnering his cousin Chris McKenna up front.

Going into the match, the Strikers were very confident that they could pick up the three points & continue their winning streak into a fifth week. From the outset, Devonport were creating plenty of attacking opportunities without managing to force the Rangers keeper into making any saves. Macdonald was looking good on the ball & drew the Rangers defenders into fouling him on several occasions due to his quick footwork.

At the 15 minute mark, Kieran Mulraney received the ball inside the six yard box with his back to goal, Grant Ashdown had make a run into the 18 yard box &, when Mulraney laid the ball back into his path, Ashdown finished clinically to put the Strikers into the lead.

After the opening goal, Rangers spent long periods in possession of the ball but weren’t looking overly dangerous in goal scoring areas. The equaliser came, however, when a poorly hit cross from the left wasn’t dealt with as it should’ve been & the Rangers forward nipped in & nodded a header in between the defender & goalkeeper Ryan Keep.

Again, after this goal, the majority of the play was a midfield battle with the Strikers unable to get any clear shots on goal & Rangers unable to break through the resolute Strikers’ defence. The score remained locked at one all at half time &, although the Strikers were extremely disappointed with conceding another soft goal, they knew that they had been relatively comfortable when defending & would be more than capable of creating opportunities to score in the second half.

The quality of the game was raised in the second half with both sides pushing to take the lead but neither was able to muster up any meaningful chances.

Midway through the second half, Strikers midfielder Luke Burton went down with what appeared to be a strained hamstring & had to be replaced by Jordan Douce. Macdonald was dropped back into centre midfield & Douce joined McKenna up front.

The Devonport forwards & midfielders had put Rangers passing game under pressure all match & had caught them out on several occasions. This pressure was rewarded in the 80^th minute when Douce, McKenna, Macdonald & Kieran Mulraney forced the error. The ball broke towards McKenna & Rangers defensive midfielder Todd Hingston. When Hingston slipped over, McKenna was through & finished the ball past the advancing keeper to give his team the lead with just ten minutes remaining.

Rangers substitute Hunt was looking dangerous but, again, the Strikers defenders dealt with anything thrown at them. Ryan Keep came out on several occasions to cut off through balls & was looking rock solid with the only exception being when one of the Rangers forwards intercepted the ball & shot from 20 yards out but missed the empty net.

In the 85^th minute, Devonport substitute Daniel McGinn was played in by Douce &, when the Rangers keeper came out to shut him down, McGinn calmly rounded him & drilled the ball home past two Rangers defenders who had gone back to cover their keeper.

The Strikers were able to hold on comfortably from there on & pocketed the three points with a well deserved 3-1 victory.

Coach Tom McGinn was delighted with his team & their ability to carry out the game plan but reminded them that every game for the remainder of the season is like a final.

The boys are now on the road for the next three league games coming up against Launceston United, Launceston City & Somerset respectively.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Kamil Douglas