DEVONPORT STRIKERS V’s LAUNCESTON CITY

Reserves match report – Mitsubishi Park, Launceston

Saturday June 11, 2011

Mitsubishi Park was the destination Saturday when Devonport came up against its next challenge in the race for the title. The Strikers confidence was sky high coming off a big 12-0 win the week before against Launceston United. Launceston City has been in some great form and the boys were well aware of the challenge that they may confront.

Devonport controlled most of the first half without creating too many clear cut chances. While looking good moving forward into attack, the defence of our boys did seem to look shaky on occasions mainly due to the pace of City’s attackers. Josh Smith played well in goal and managed to produces a couple of nice saves early in the match. Caz Douglas found his form in front of goal, scoring from an excellent through ball to give Devonport a 1-0 half-time lead.

Coach Peter Best called on the boys at half time to lift the standard of the game to the next level. His wishes were granted almost right from the second half kick-off. The Strikers began to build some more purposeful attacks and were lucky enough to earn a penalty about 10 minutes into the half when Simon Wilson made the most of a tackle from behind inside the box. Kurt Howard was the man that made his way to the spot, unfortunately his shot failed to test Launceston’s goalkeeper as it when sailing wide of the right post.

It wasn’t much longer before the lead was doubled thanks to an excellent left foot strike from the top of the box from our leader Caz Douglas. This may have been the first time Caz has used his left foot (Maybe he should use it more often?). In an almost replica of Douglas’ goal, Keegan Downes was able to make it 3-0 after striking a left foot shot from the same spot. The game was completed with Caz Douglas finishing his hat-trick, and his teams fourth, after a selfless piece of play from Kurt Howard allowed him to go one-on-one with the keeper.

An excellent second half meant Devonport retains its brilliant run of results, completing a winning streak of 10 from 10 this season. The team’s next game will be away to Somerset as the boys will look to repeat its efforts against the Sharks from earlier in the season.