State Under-15s just get home against the Under-14s

Photos (Top to Bottom): Tasmania Under-15s; Tasmania Under-14s

Tasmania Under-14s 1-2 Tasmania Under-15s

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The first half of this match was excellent, with both sides reading the game well and generally showing good team work and individual technical skills.

Understandably, the game dropped off a bit in the second half as the teams tired. They had, of course, been in camp for most of the week and this had taken its toll physically.

There were some impressive players on view and this augurs well for the future of the game in Tasmania.

The Under-15s could have taken an early lead when the Under-14s failed to clear a corner in the 8^th minute, but Brodie Knights could not get any power into his close-range shot and the ball went out for a goal-kick.

A minute later, however, the Under-15s did take the lead when Alexander Nandan went on a long run through the middle and finished with a powerful shot that gave Tristan Prendergast no chance.

The Under-14s were level within three minutes, however, when Jim Eagles’s persistence on the left of the box enable him to dispossess Eli Luttmer and beat Liam Ferrall with his shot.

The Under-15s recovered quickly from this set-back and Prendergast had to produce a fine save in the 18^th minute from Hugh Foley.

Nandan restored the Under-15s’ lead in the 23^rd minute with a shot from 20 metres that beat Prendergast at his left-hand post.

Sam Hamilton went close for the Under-15s on the half-hour when he fired in a shot from wide on the left that just missed the far post.

Prendergast was again called into action in the 33^rd minute when he saved well from Brady Cronk, who had brushed aside Lucas Hill and advanced on goal before shooting.

Three minutes after the break and with the Under-15s pressing to extend their lead, Luttmer went close with a header that narrowly cleared the bar.

Midway through the half, Nandan again tested Prendergast, who was up to the task, tipping the midfielder’s shot over the bar for a corner.

The match drew to a close with defender Aidan Rigby chancing his luck for the Under-15s, but his shot just flashed wide of the far post.

It was a highly entertaining match and a worthy curtain-raiser for the senior grand final.

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· Tasmania Under-14s stand-in coach, Mike Edwards, said:

“From the Under-14s’ point of view, their instructions tonight were to go out and put into practice what they’d been doing in camp over the last two weeks and, from what we saw, they were certainly doing that.

“We’re very pleased with the way the 14s performed tonight.

“Obviously, having come up against a very physical, a very strong under-15 side, they showed they’re capable of matching it in many of the areas.

“So, yes, very happy with what we saw from the 14s tonight and they should do well while they’re away.”

· Tasmania Under-15s coach, Chris Hey, said:

“As Mike said, we tried to work on tonight what we’ve been working on in the last three days at camp and some of it came off, and some of it didn’t.

“One of the biggest problems we had tonight was the fact that we’re not releasing the ball quickly enough.

“Sometimes we’re holding on to it, which is allowing the opposition to get back defensively.

“And, we need to be a little bit more accurate in getting the ball to feet.

“But, having said that, the guys have just come out of a three-day camp.

‘You know, we’ve been training four or five hours a day and, you know, mentally and physically, the idea of the camp was to give them an idea of what they’re going to be facing at the Nationals and for their mental approach to be able to get up to the games that they’re going to be facing at the Nationals given those conditions.

“Not disappointed with the result. I thought the 14s were a very, very good unit, played some good soccer, and I think both teams, hopefully, will do well at the Nationals.”

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Tasmania Under-14s: Prendergast - McClung, Hill, Collin, Hearn - Ire - Devine, Quigly, Green, Eagles - Geeves (Substitutes: Fahey, Maxwell, Clarke)

Goals: Eagles 12

Tasmania Under-15s: Ferrall - Luttmer, Muller, Cuschieri, Rigby - Knights, Nandan, Lovell, Hamilton - Cronk, H Foley (Substitutes: Lanau-Atkinson, DeSmit, D Foley, Watkins)

Goals: Nandan 9, 23

Att: 200 (KGV Park, Friday, 18 September 2009)

Ref: D Lineen