"We are the pride of all Tassie, the cock of the North." Those are the first lines of the Devonport Strikers club song, and after defeating Northern Rangers 1-0 to clinch the PS4 NPL Tasmania 2016 Premiership, they ring truer than ever.
Strikers shut out Rangers to claim League title
The win came in a largely tepid affair in blustery conditions at the NTCA Ground in Round 20 action courtesy of a 30th minute Brodie Denehy goal.
His goal not only claimed the Strikers’ maiden championship win since the re-introduction of the State League, but also completed the fabled league and cup double after winning the Milan Lakoseljac Cup in June. The Devonport side also became the first team from the northern half of the Tasmania to win the title in the new State League era. But most significantly for the Strikers it welcomes them back from the State Championship wilderness to raise the cup for the first time in 12 years.
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Lions and Reds share spoils
Clarence and Kingborough played out a 1-1 draw in a dour game at Wentworth Park on Saturday evening. Kingborough had the lions share of the ball but struggled to convert it into clear cut chances as Clarence sat back and frustrated the visitors for long periods. After Clarence took a first half lead through Paul Bremner the Lions eventually leveled through Chris Downes but neither side could find a winner in a game of few real chances.
The first chance of the game fell to Tom Mcdonald on 8 minutes who was set up by some lovely play in wide areas by Jack Gates, but he blazed over the bar with his half volley from close range. That would be Gates only meaningful contribution as he was subbed out with a hamstring injury shortly after.
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City strike early and hold on
Launceston City won their first game at Warrior Park this afternoon as they scored early and defended resolutely from that point forward against the Olympia FC Warriors.
Olympia started the better of the two teams as Gavin Hoy managed to rattle off a shot inside the first minute that required saving by David Smith. They continued to control the tempo for the opening five or so minutes before Rossi tested Mitchell Stalker in the Olympia goals in the 9th minute.
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South Hobart stun Zebras with incredible comeback victory
South Hobart scored four times in the final 20 minutes to recover from a 4-1 deficit and record an incredible 5-4 victory over the Hobart JEEP Zebras at KGV. The game appeared to be over when Dwayne Walsh restored Zebras three goal buffer in the 74th minute but goals to Hall, Hess and Turner in the space of 10 minutes leveled the game before Hess completed the miraculous comeback with his stoppage time winner.
It was the Zebras who got the jump on the South as they took the lead 16 minutes in against the run of play. A cross from Undy to the back post was dropped by the keeper Brown, as he tried to come over the top of Huigsloot and it slipped through his fingers and into the net.
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