Monday, May 4, 2009

Clarence United move up to third place with victory over Olympic






Photos (Top to Bottom): Referee's assistant Patrick Galloway in action at the Lions versus Zebras game, the day after the Clarence versus Olympic night match at which he was subjected to abuse by some unruly spectators; Referee Kim Barker had to intervene and sent off Olympic substitute Lincoln Conquest; Luke Cripps, who hit his second hat-trick of the season in the game against Olympic; Cripps heading a goal against Glenorchy Knights in this season's Summer Cup; Chris Tsakiris...injured and missed the game against Clarence; Chris Tsimiklis...another absentee for Olympic against Clarence.


Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League, Wentworth Park, Saturday, 2 May 2009

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Clarence United 4 (Cripps 20, 81, 84, Hunt 43)
Hobart Olympic 2 (Bulis 45, 46)

HT: 2-2 Att: 150 Ref: K Barker
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Clarence United: Moschogianis - Toghill, Lewis, Ling, J Huigsloot (Heggie 72) - McMahon (Knapek 62), Cannamela, Stevens, Hunt - Cripps, Barron (Phillips 89) [Substitute not used: Sweetten] [Coach: A Brown]

Hobart Olympic: Plomaritis - Lebski, Mahamad, P Tsakiris, Kaproulias - Richardson, Mason, A Hedge (M Hedge 80), Djekanovic - Bulis, Kunwar [Substitutes not used: Conquest, E Tsakiris] [Coach: F Shaw]
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Hobart Olympic were without the injured Chris Tsakiris and goalkeeper Dmitri Nester, who was interstate.

Stratos Plomaritis played in goal and acquitted himself reasonably well.

Olympic substitute Lincoln Conquest was injured in the warm-up but stayed on the bench in street clothing and was sent off a minute from the end after an altercation with the referee, Mr Barker.

The game was, in fact, delayed for several minutes just short of the 90-minute mark as abuse was apparently being hurled at the assistant referee, Patrick Galloway. Mr Barker held up the proceedings for several minutes as he restored order and that is why the game went to the 98-minute mark.

Olympic had few chances initially and it took 14 minutes for them to fire a shot in anger as Dipendra Kunwar shot wide.

The visitors were caught off-side an incredible 14 times, which should not happen at any level if attackers know what they are doing.

Clarence took the lead in the 20th minute when a deep cross from the right by Mattias Toghill was headed home at the far post by Luke Cripps.

In the 43rd minute, Chris Hunt made it 2-0 after cutting in from the left and shooting low inside the far post.

The game was far from over, however, and two goals in as many minutes in stoppage time at the end of the first half by Michael Bulis made it 2-2 at the break.

He made the most of his speed and the service of Kunwar, although there was a hint of off-side about at least one of the two goals.

The goal of the match came nine minutes from the end when substitute Rowan Heggie attacked down the left and crossed brilliantly to the far post for Cripps to again head home and put Clarence 3-2 in front.

The youngster had little space in which to manoeuvre but found a way past Robert Lebski and he launched himself through the air and delivered the cross, all in one movement, as the great Trevor Brooking of West Ham United sometimes did.

Six minutes from the end, Youssef Mohamad brought down Andy Barron, and Cripps completed his second hat-trick of the season by slotting home the spot-kick to make it 4-2.

The result moved Clarence up a place to third, while Olympic remained second-last.

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  • Clarence United coach, Andrew Brown, said:

“We only get three points, but it felt as if we won two games today.

“We had the game on toast. It was a tight tussle.

“When you’re two nil up with a minute to go before half-time, you think, yeah, we’re in a good position.

“To concede the two goals the way we did meant that we had to win another game of football.

“Great credit to the players that they were able to re-group themselves mentally and reaffirm what we wanted to do in the first half. We went out and did exactly the same thing in the second half.

“Three points. A valuable three points considering the cracks that other sides are displaying at the moment.

“We’re very, very happy to be, now, 12 points away from relegation and back on the winning trail.”

  • Hobart Olympic coach, Farrell Shaw, said:

“An interesting first half. I mean, they put us under a lot of pressure.

“Their off-side trap was working well. Some would say the decisions were a little bit dubious at times. I know it’s hard for linesmen when you’ve got two fast runners like ours up front.

“But, in saying that, the last two goals they got, the pressure was on us.

“I hate to lose that way. I’d rather see them score two good goals to win it, not goals like that.”

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STATISTICS

CLARENCE UNITED HOBART OLYMPIC
11 Goal Attempts 5
7 Shots on Target 2
5 Corners 3
14 Fouls Committed 18
1 Off-Sides 14
3 (J Huigsloot 37, McMahon 45, Hunt 98) Yellow Cards 1 (Kaproulias 44)
0 Red Cards 1 (Conquest 89)

Clarence United:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Hunt 4 3
Barron 1 0
Cripps 5 4
Phillips 1 0

Hobart Olympic:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Bulis 3 2
Kunwar 1 0
M Hedge 1 0

7 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Wouldn't necessarily say the Olympic forwards "didnt know what they were doing Walter", very harsh indeed, although i did get a laugh out of it. Clarence's back four seems to be gelling extremely well, they are causing teams to think, which alot of forwards cannot do. Great win by Zebra's, put more pressure on South Hobart.

heartbreak said...

I think Olympic were simply out played. Credit to Browny and his boys. I think Dippa needs to start timing his runs and we might see things then.

Bruce said...

Crippsy (Crispy to his mates) is making a massive difference to the Clarence outfit this year. An out of character defeat to a hungry New Town side a few weeks back only highlights his importance, as he was not present. His efforts on the weekend justified a hat-trick.

Neutral said...

Not quite sure what shaw's comment about the goals scored by clarence not being good goals. All three goals scored in play were finished clinically, the last being a brilliant play. And a penalty is a penalty. Sometimes coaches should admit being beaten by a better team. Good work to "Crispy" on another hat-trick, would never have picked him as a goal scorer, or player of note, only a few years back.

Walter said...

Geoff, you've actually agreed with me. In saying that the Clarence back-four "seem(s) to be gelling extremely well, they are causing teams to think, which a lot of forwards cannot do." That's what I meant when I said "the Olympic forwards didn't know what they were doing."

Crispy's Crew said...

Crispy certainly looks the goods this year. A third of the way through and he has already scored 10! He has dashing pace, dazzling skills and delightful finishing. With a heart as big as pharlap's and the courage of a lion, this rejuvenated veteran could very well lead clarence to success.