Sunday, April 11, 2010

Eagles and Clarence miss glorious chances and settle for goalless draw













Photos (Top to Bottom): Referee Kim Barker tosses the coin; New Town Eagles smooth their feathers before kick-off; Clarence United prepare to ruffle Eagles' feathers; Eagles coach George Krambousanos yells out instructions; Eagles' Michael Anderson controls the ball before Chris Hunt can intervene; Eagles' Jamie Vernon (left) tangles with Clarence's Mattias Toghill; Eagles' Steve Louden gets a leg around Clarence's Luke Cripps; Eagles' Michael Anderson and Clarence's Chris Hunt go for a highball as Mark Page looks on; Clarence's Grant Malcolm fights for possession in midfield ahead of Ethan Menzie and Jamie Vernon; Eagles' keeper Nathan Pitchford about to gain possession; Clarence's Mattias Toghill clears before Ethan Menzie can intervene, while Matt Lewis watches on; Clarence's Sam McIntyre (left) races for the ball with Eagles' Michael Anderson [PlessPix]


Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League (Clare Street, Saturday, 10 April 2010)


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New Town Eagles 0

Clarence United 0


Att: 100 Ref: K Barker


New Town Eagles: Pitchford - Page, Wass, Louden (Kent 46), Clark - Whitehall, Menzie, Anderson, Vernon [(Strang 46) Clamp 86] - McKeown, Leszczynski [Substitute not used: Minty]


Clarence United: Sweeney - Toghill, Lewis, Parker, McMahon - S McIntyre (Ling 85), Malcolm (L Huigsloot 60), Cannamela, Hunt (Barron 73) - Cripps, Hamlett [Substitute not used: Sweetten]


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This goalless draw dropped New Town Eagles a place to fifth on the ladder, while Clarence are sixth on goal-difference.


Both sides missed glorious chances and just weren’t sharp enough in front of goal.


Eagles’ Adam McKeown will have sleepless nights about his two misses. The first came in the 4th minute when he lobbed a simple chance over the bar, while the second, in the 71st minute, was on his wrong left foot, but he should have scored instead of shooting over the bar when facing an open goal.


Clarence captain Luke Cripps had similar experiences. In the 10th minute, he headed a right-wing cross from Sam McIntyre over the bar, while five minutes later he mis-kicked a low left-wing cross from Chris Hunt. Eagles’ Chris Wass also missed his clearance as the ball carried through to him, while McIntyre scuffed his shot as the ball reached him and it dribbled into Nathan Pitchford’s arms.


McIntyre was off his game and, in the 31st minute, he sent a weak shot straight at Pitchford after gaining possession when Cripps again mis-kicked a left-wing cross from Hunt.


Eagles brought on Shane Kent and Simon Strang at the interval in place of Steve Louden and Jamie Vernon. Strang’s introduction was a strange move as the youngster had played in the reserves curtain-raiser and also for the reserves on Thursday night in the 4-3 loss to the Tasmanian Institute of Sport. It came as no surprise when he had to be substituted in turn with four minutes remaining as he was clearly exhausted.


Midway through the second half, Hunt managed a snap shot from close range for Clarence after a corner, but he lifted the ball over the bar.


In the 69th minute, Cripps missed another sitter. Luke Huigsloot, who had replaced Grant Malcolm on the hour, put Cripps in with a chance after beating Wass on the right, but the Clarence captain hit the crossbar when it would surely have been easier to score.


Two minutes later came McKeown’s incredible miss, but Eagles went even closer in the 73rd minute when Strang got on the end of Alex Leszczynski’s cross from the right but struck the post with his shot. Perhaps he just didn’t have the energy to apply full power to his strike.


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· New Town Eagles coach, George Krambousanos, said:


“You wouldn’t think that Clarence have lost a couple of games by four or five goals.


“They fought well, and our lads fought well, too.


“I think both sides were below par.


“We gained a point, but it was our home ground and maybe we should have gained three.


“Having said that, I think a draw was deserved by both sides.


“I think we had more chances. They hit the woodwork and we hit the woodwork. McKeown could have had a couple for us today, but it was bad luck.


“We tired a little bit, but I’m happy with the lads and we’ll just keep on going and see what happens.”

4 comments:

The Phoenix said...

no comment from Mr Brown Walter ?

Anonymous said...

Thought Eagles were unlucky, had the chances they just needed to be taken. Few choices made by coach were questionable in regards to players and substitutions. Pretty even ganme. Good to see Nathan Pitchford back on track, had a few mix ups with defence but this will all work out. Not impressed by some of the Clarence supporters. Hopefully this is allowed to be said on here but was impressed by the wags of New town eagles .. on a lighter note.

Rage against the machine said...

No comment rom Browny??

Anonymous said...

Thought the scottish player from metro played ok while he was on.
was solid in the middle with clarence's other central midfielder.
Could be a good combination in the months to follow.