Monday, June 8, 2009

University run into stampeding herd of Zebras

If bottom-side University thought they had turned the corner in the Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League competition last Friday by beating Hobart Olympic 2-0 to register their first league win of the season, then they had better think again.

Coming up the street they had turned into was a rampaging herd of Zebras, who flattened the Students 8-2 at KGV Park today.

The win gives Tilford Zebras an 8-point lead over second-placed Glenorchy Knights.

University were never in the hunt in the first half and trailed 7-1 at the interval against a Zebras side that was well served by Brett Pullen, who came out of retirement from senior soccer to play in this game.

Kurt Engels, making a rare senior appearance, also did well to score a hat-trick.

Ben Crosswell, with two goals, and Dwayne Walsh also got on the scoresheet, while University did not help their own cause by scoring two own-goals.

Alexis Bull, with a penalty, and Aaron Hindmarsh scored for University, who managed to contain Zebras to a single goal while scoring once itself in the second half.

Referee Kim Barker had to be replaced by assistant referee Simon Natoli early in the second period after suffering a hamstring injury.

Zebras won the reserve match 3-0, while University took the honours 7-3 in the Under-19s.

In a Division One match played at Pontville on Sunday night, bottom-side Hobart United scored their first win of the season by downing third-placed Beachside 3-0 after a goalless opening half.

United’s marksmen were Peter Otto, Adam Woodward and Emmanuel Otto.

The win did not improve United’s position on the ladder, but they are now within a point of second-last Christian United.

19 comments:

B P said...

heard that Walter may be ill thoughts with you old boy

Richard Bladel said...
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Richard Bladel said...

Funnily enough, though we got thumped by a far better side, I think it might prove to be a turning point for Uni. We were so bloody awful in the first half, no discipline and shape in midfield, a total lack of intensity, ball watching defenders giving the likes of Crozza (the best striker in the state for mine) much too much space and being slow and square at the back in general. We lost Lex Bull & Richard Delara in the first half to injury so several players played out of position by necessity and tired legs from Friday night's game in the mud while the Zebs were putting their feet up in front of the fire or whatever. Turned out to be a crappy draw for us fixture wise - why the double headers? Stand in coach Kev Wright was brilliant at half time and he motivated the lads to come out and play like they can - with a good spirit, working together, disciplined and compact at the back, supporting each other as second defenders and committed and at times desperate in defence with glimpses of the good combination play of old and starting to look dangerous on the break against what is a pretty ordinary Zebras defence, especially when the old warhorse BP went off - he's the kind of beast any holding midfield'd be glad to have. Young Rory did well as the lone striker and with better support from behind and more experience will be even better as a striker. Kev made some good positional changes to get the best out of a few blokes and while the Zebs made their own luck in the first half - deflections & bounces going their way, we made ours in the second half and drew that 1-1. That might sound like scant consolation when getting flogged 8 - 2, if Uni'd played like they did in the second half for the whole game, it might've been a very different result. If we are to avoid the drop to Div 1 we need to display the ticker we played with in that second half, let teams like the Zebras play all pretty out wide with their one touch stuff but keep em out in the area that really counts. So Walter, the herd of Zebras line is a beauty, I like it, there is a lot of truth there, but as I think you missed the game, I thought I'd put another point of view. Hope you're ok mate, get well soon.

Tommy said...

Richard, can you not assume that at 7-1 Zebras might have taken their foot off the pedal so perhaps the view of Uni performing that much better is slightly exaggerated?

Secondly, I have heard people rubbish Zebras defence a lot this year and I have no idea where that's coming from. 3 of the 4 played in the premiership side of 07 in defence, another, Connolly who is in and out played in the 07 defence as well. Those 3, Connolly, Telega and Smith all played in the team that lost one game in two seasons conceeding less than a goal a game in 03/04. They have the 3rd best goals against column in the league. So being the third best constitutes rubbish?

This year they have probably conceeded more than normal but that is a two-fold reason. The clubs committment to attacking football and the loss of Frank Mainella. Troy Kaden is a good keeper, but he is young and is still learning, so it will take time for him to reach the level of a Mainella. To call the defence rubbish is a stretch, Smith, Telega and Fagg would be first choice defenders at any club.

Anonymous said...

totally agree with you Tommy. I have seen alot of people comment on the performances and i have always seen that smith telega fagg and connolly have been up there for best defenders going around. connolly has been in and out but only because young brayden pace has come out of nowhere and playign brilliantly. where was the kid last year? changed clubs?

djohn said...

Player for player zebras have the best defence in the league but at the moment can be caught flat and this is where some spectators become critical. Certainly they are not 'ordinary' but it may seem so when comparing it to their attack in crozza, brazendale, Welch, walshe and Self.

Brayden played reserves for zebras last year and has really improved over the break.

batistuta said...

The defence of zebras looks good because they are not often under pressure. was connolly at zebras in 04 when they won everything?
watched the game yesterday and it only confirmed opinion on welch! he didnt complete a single pass all game unless you count the miss hit that fell to walsh. Crosswell was good all game again and Ricky Self and Pullen played well in midfield. Find of the season maybe is young Engels?

Richard Bladel said...
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Richard Bladel said...

Hey lads, why dont you blokes all change your names to Cyclops, cos you're that one eyed..

Tommy said...

Batistuta - good point re Connolly in 04, I forgot he was overseas that season.

There are big wraps on both the Engels boys at Zebras.

I have to disagree with you on Welch, within the club he is highly regarded and since his inclusion in the side they started this winning run they're on.

jayden welch said...

This is just to batistuta, i dont get into reading these comments and i really dont care to be honest. I know i have played badly the last few weeks and im the first to admit it and i understand you have your own opinon and you can critisize me all you like. But atleast put your own name up when you voice these opinions and dont hide behind your user name.

CIZZA said...

Richard yes 1-1 in the second half on the scoreboard but the number of chances the zebras created in the second half was astounding. you were luck not to be humiliated with double figures in the end. Saying it might have been a different result, are you on your high horse or in this case zebra.
As for the mud you spoke of could you tell me where it was as I must have missed it.

Special One said...

Uni put 9 behind the ball in the 2nd half... the rain came down, zebras hit post, cross bar had around 10-12 corners, could have been a cricket score... uni went into the zebras half around 6 times in the whole half, who is this Richard and was he even at the game? then to bag zebras for playing wide, one touch football, thats the sort of narrow minded approach to the game that holds tasmanian football back, shame walter wasnt there to show the stats, makes me laugh to read such rubbish! good luck to uni for rest of season but come on mate get a grip!

The Phoenix said...

hmm specialone you are spot on !!! Cizza I must confess i still am puzzeled by the Mud thing , what mud? where was it?
Oh and Dick i am not one eyed i thought Uni totally out played olympic on friday night and said so , but to then make excuses for their insipid effort on monday takes away from the win.Still you may survive in the top flight , i still think olympic are done and destined for div 1but then again what will uni do for u/19s next year because the TIS thing won't save you next year.

Krauser said...

so um if uni belt the ball forward for a striker to run onto they will get out of trouble will they ? thats all i saw from them in the second half..
its amazing that a good passing team gets bagged for playing good one touch stuff and yet a team who punts long balls is gonna get places...

geezer said...

Krauser, you are absolutely right. Zebra's completely outplayed Uni - football lesson. I guess Richard hasn't responded because he is too busy prising his tongue away from the side of his mouth :). He did have a point about the unfortunate draw, tired uni legs were never in the hunt, but the game might have been a bit more interesting if both sides were fresh. And as for the long balls in the 2nd half, what choice did Uni have? Get smashed by a cricket score or flood the defence and go the long ball, especially when their keeper can kick the length of the pitch and throw it nearly as far.

batistuta said...

i don't think richard is bagging one touch football? read his comment? he says that zebras play one touch football in wide areas and that uni basically flooded the defence to keep them in wide areas and not in the danger areas? can't see much wrong with that comment!

get serious guys, he is trying to find some positives for his club which obviously realize zebras are the best team in the league?

seems to be a lot of gloating on here though which takes away from the performance which was top notch!

Corey Smith said...

Not sure about the comments about Uni? Zebras were far the better side and certainly gave the group of us knights boys watching a lot to think about coming into this weeks game.
Hoping it is a great spectacle Friday Night and both sides have the best 11 available and ready to go.

Anonymous said...

Batistuta - on you're criticism of Jayden Welch, you can't just judge him on a couple of games. I've played against him in the reserves for a few years now, and he is a nightmare to play on. Very sharp on the ball, scores goals and man, he runs non stop. Everyone goes through a rough patch. You have to put things into perspective mate - he deserves his chance after consistent performances. A very mature response to you're criticism as well, good on you mate. I hope you and Pullen stay in the 1's this week against us!