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Could this be Clarence United’s year?
They reached the Summer Cup final and came close to winning it against Tilford Zebras.
They have now knocked off two of the big-name teams in Tasmanian football in consecutive games - Tilford Zebras (3-1), and Glenorchy Knights (4-1).
And, they are equal top of the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League, level on 10 points with reigning champions South Hobart, but in second place because of an inferior goal-difference.
The only fly in the ointment was their drab 0-0 draw away to Hobart Olympic in a torrential downpour at South Hobart.
They were never in trouble against the Knights at the new venue of Cambridge.
Knights suffered from terrible defensive errors, including poor goalkeeping, but a team still has to put the ball in the back of the net to win, and that’s what Clarence did.
Knights had their chances, too, but they were inept at finishing.
Clarence gave Knights a clear indication of their intentions with two early warning shots across the bows.
In the 14th minute, Sam Cannamela sent a powerful header just over the bar following a Clarence corner, while two minutes later, Julian McMahon fired just wide of the target.
In the 31st minute, Luke Cripps made it 1-0 for the home side with a well-placed header from a free-kick.
Cripps should have scored again a minute later, but he fired into the side-netting.
Six minutes later, Chris Hunt went around Ben Peter, who certainly touched him, but Hunt went down much too easily after the contact and Mr Phillips awarded a penalty.
Cripps converted and it was 2-0 for Clarence.
Three minutes before the interval, Toby Ling ventured forward at a corner and powered a header past Peter to give the home side a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
Knights brought on Amadu Koroma and Mynonge Kamba, a former Clarence player, early in the second half and Kamba came close to scoring when his header grazed the top of the crossbar in the 64th minute.
But, it was Clarence that extended their lead in the 70th minute as Cripps completed his hat-trick after Peter inexplicably passed the ball gently to him at the edge of the box and he had the simplest of tasks in netting.
Josh Fielding found a way through the Clarence defence a minute later, but he could not beat Michael Moschogianis.
With seven minutes remaining, Corey Smith, who had been pushed up into the attack, grabbed a consolation goal for the Knights.
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- Clarence United coach, Andrew Brown, said:
“Any time you’ve beaten the Knights 4-1, you’re happy.
“I was disappointed again with another soft goal that we conceded.
“It’s becoming a habit and it’s a frustrating habit, but that said, to see Luke Cripps score his first ever hat-trick in football was a pleasure.
“I thought we got what we deserved today.”
- Glenorchy Knights coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:
“Absolutely disgraceful. A disgraceful performance.
“Disgraceful in discipline, disgraceful in calling it a game of football.
“Absolutely disgraceful. I’m sorry, I can’t keep using that word strongly enough, but that’s exactly what it was today.
“No discipline, no nothing. A complete waste of time in coming out as far as I’m concerned.
“But, congratulations to Clarence. They deserved their win. They played well.”
- Glenorchy Knights assistant coach, Nick Harrison, said:
“I think we probably got what we deserved over the 90 minutes, to be honest.
“We know Clarence are a very good side, the way they play. We worked on that during the week.
“The players were told what to do, but they went out and did their own game plan, really.
“We need to go back to the drawing board, I think. Lots of work to do.”
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Clarence United: Moschogianis, Toghill, Lewis, Ling, J Huigsloot, McMahon, Parker (L Huigsloot 87), Cannamela, Hunt, Hamlett (Knapek 35), Cripps (Barron 85) [Sub not used: Grainger]
Goals: Cripps 31, 37 pen, 70, Ling 42
Glenorchy Knights: Peter, Wiggins, Grundy, Smith, Marsh, Clay, Fielding, Vavoulas (Kamba 53), Roberts, Sherman (Koroma 50), Hope (Green 78).
Booked: Wiggins, Kamba, Fielding, Smith
Goals: Smith 83
Att: 120
Ref: C Phillips
6 comments:
Back to the training ground for Knights, inexcusable the way they played. Things have got to be done.
Eamonn Kelly is a too good of a coach to be let down like this, i mean he showed this with the NYL games.
What can be done?
Wish I could've seen Luke's hat-trick. Well done Crippsy!!!!
With Eagles next week and South and Zebras playing each other, Clarence could well find themselves top of the table after next week. I agree with Walter this could very well be their year.
yes clarence are very inpressive this year this could be there year credit to the coaching staff at clarence keep up the good work
yes agreed boof should b an intresting outcome in u19s reserves and seniors this year
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