Sunday, August 23, 2009

Relegated University succumb to Eagles in final Premier League appearance

New Town Eagles 2-0 University

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University were already relegated as they went into this match, so there was little at stake for them other than pride.


New Town Eagles had the chance to move one place up the ladder to sixth, which they did as a result of their win, but they returned to finish the season in seventh spot a couple of hours later as Hobart Olympic beat Kingborough Lions United.


University were without three regulars - goalkeeper Hamish Peacock, striker Alexis Bull, and midfielder Richard Delara, the latter a former Eagles player.


They fell to two set-pieces from Eagles and, although they came back strongly in teh second half, they were unable to peg back their opponents.


Eagles took the lead after just two minutes. Martin Piesse turned Jamie Vernon’s shot out for a corner, which was taken by Ben Whitehall and headed home by central-defender Michael Anderson.


Eagles had several more chances in the opening half but it was not until the 31st minute that they added their second goal.


University were slow learners on the night and they succumbed to a carbon copy of the first goal.


Piesse turned Andy Clark’s shot out for a corner, which was again taken by Whitehall, but this time it was Eagles’ other central-defender, captain Chris Wass, who headed home to make it 2-0.


University were much better after the break and Nigel Blundell powered one rocket just over the Eagles crossbar from Rory McCallum’s square pass in the 55th minute.


Eagles had the final say, however, as Shane Kent’s shot was tipped over the bat by Piesse in the last minute.


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· New Town Eagles coach, George Krambousanos, said:


“Both teams were under strength. Uni had about three players out and we had all our northern boys out.


“At the end of the game, we had another two reserves on.


“It wasn’t a pretty game, but a win is a win.


“I’m sad to see Uni go down. I think it should be a ten-team league for next year.


“I mean, it’s so sad. But, that’s how it goes.


“I’m happy that all our lads turned up for the game. We had one training session, a proper training session, for the last four or five weeks.


“But, every other team was in the same situation.


“I’d just like to say congratulations to everyone else, to Zebras and South Hobart, of course, and the Knights, for making the top-four, and now we’ve got to wait and see who is going to make fourth place, Clarence or Kingborough.”


· University coach, Scott Gallacher, said:


“The second half was much better than the first half, obviously. I thought we looked a bit ordinary.


“The shirts that the boys had to wear, it took a few of them a while to get used to wearing them, to be honest.


“We gave them too much room. We knew that, but that’s just the way it is.


“The second half was much better and we competed a bit more.


“But, good luck to New Town and good luck to George. He did a good job this year.”


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New Town Eagles: Soszynski - Page, Anderson, Wass, Ferrall (Wilson 84) - Malakoff, Clarke, Vernon (Pope 75), Whitehall - Fennell (Kent 66), McKeown (Substitute not used: Minty)


Goals: Anderson 3, Wass 31


University: Piesse - Besley, Andrews (Wilkinson 75), Merry, Blundell - King, Griffiths, Gooch, Burgess (Jones 46) - McCallum, Hindmarsh (Substitute not used: Delara)


Booked: King


Att: 50 (KGV Park, Wednesday, 19 August 2009)


Ref: C Phillips

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